Over recent years, much has been written about the SAS and recently, there have been a plethora of television programmes too. They all tend to emphasise the death and glory aspect of the Regiment and their operatives have taken on an almost God-like stature.

 

There’s no doubt that they are capable of extraordinary feats of endurance and their skills and training are renowned as being the best in the world. Details of what they have to go through to gain their badge is readily available on the web, but what is less documented is the reality of life in the Regiment.

 

So, here are some interesting, every day facts

 

1.  Uniform

 

In essence, it’s the same as Regular Forces (AKA Green Army), however, there is a disdain for it. In the SAS, scruffy is the order of the day. Boots are only polished to keep them supple and waterproof, but never buffed to a shine. No item of clothing is ever pressed and berets are reserved for formal occasions. In the SAS, if you want to keep your head warm, you wear a beany hat!

 

This scruffiness often extends to hair. There are no man buns and sharp hair cuts are ridiculed. Facial hair is a matter of practicality. Beards are avoided because they prevent a good seal on gas masks but there are often competitions to see who can grow the most ridiculous moustache. However, many operatives simply can’t be bothered with hair at all (at least on their heads) and full shaves, including scalp, are common.

 

 

2.  Hierarchy

 

The ranks in the SAS are the same as Green Army but you’ll rarely hear them used. Unless someone enters the SAS as an officer, they will automatically be given the rank of Trooper (equivalent of Private), regardless of what rank they held previously.

 

First names are the most common form of address, although the highest ranking soldier in the room will tend to be referred to as “Boss”. If you were unwise enough to call your senior rank “Sir”, at best, you’d be ridiculed by your peers and at worst, you’d have to buy the whole Mess drinks.

 

Other than during official ceremonies, SAS soldiers never, ever salute a senior rank. This, as you can imagine, does not go down well when the SAS and Green Army mix!

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3.  The largest elite Regiment in the world

 

If ever someone tells you they are in the SAS, they’re lying. At any given time, there are only a few hundred “Blades” (those who have passed Selection and been awarded their badges) and none of them would ever admit it when they were still serving. Why? Because, if they did, they’d immediately be kicked out of the Regiment and RTUed (returned to their original unit) Added to which, they are aware that admitting it, immediately makes themselves and their families a target.

 

It's a little known fact that "The Regiment" is a lot more than just the Blades. There are a large array of units who act in support of the Blades. These are taken from all areas of the Green Army: drivers, air support, logistics and communications to name but a few. When a team of Blades is sent on an Operation, double or triple the same number of other operatives will be acting in support.

 

 

4.  Day to day life

 

Life for a Blade – and those in support - is one of uncertainty. During periods of high alert (which, incidentally the UK has been under for the last decade or more) operatives are routinely on a thirty minute Standby. What this means is that 30 minutes warning can be given at any time to be called into action. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you have to be ready.

 

However, one myth that the TV programmes and books have fostered is that it’s all action. This is far from the truth. The majority of the time is spent training. Skills have to be kept current, fitness has to be maintained at a peak and when an operation is in the planning phase, as many different scenarios as possible are rehearsed… again and again. Hence the Regiment’s mantra “train hard, fight easy”.

 

Operations are planned to last no more than a few days. This doesn’t mean that they won’t be extended due to unforeseen circumstances, but the aim is to be in and out of a situation as fast as possible. Operatives might spend a week or two in a foreign country but the time in enemy territory is limited as much as is practical.

 

Family life comes second to the demands of the Regiment and this is one of the reasons why marriages tend to fail. The added complication is that Operatives are unable to tell their nearest and dearest anything Classified – which generally means that the only way you know what part of the world your husband has been operating in is checking their boots. Mud means they’ve been in the Northern Hemisphere, sand means the Middle East or Africa!

 

There are also the difficulties of adjusting to ordinary life when you return from an Op. One day you can be tracking insurgents or effecting a hostage rescue, the next you’re expected to fix a leaking tap in the bathroom.

 

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5.  More than killing machines

 

Again, there has been much press regarding the ruthless nature of SAS soldiers. There’s no doubt that you have to have a certain mindset to be able to kill others but Blades only kill when they have to and will avoid it whenever practical.

 

They prefer – and are trained – to be invisible. The most successful operations are when they achieve the mission without a shot being fired and without anyone knowing that they’ve even been there. That’s why a large proportion of their role is intelligence-gathering.

 

The well-publicised operations you will have seen on television or read in books are the tip of the iceberg. The vast majority are unknown and will remain so, possibly forever. One thing is certain, though; in every major conflict in the world for the past forty years, SAS teams have been involved, often without even the rest of the British Army knowing.

 

 

6.  Death as a part of life

 

Every SAS operative knows the risks they are taking on. Figures for exactly how many of them have died in any given year are not revealed. This is partly because, on their death, they are immediately “de-badged” and returned to their original Green Army Corps. In other words, their deaths get logged down as regular army soldiers, not SAS.

 

However, most operations behind enemy lines have at least one casualty. Some have multiple. And every operative, without exception, will have witnessed comrades wounded, often fatally.

 

As a civilian, it’s hard to comprehend how they deal with that, but there’s a stoic acceptance of death as part of life. There’s also a lot of black humour. However, there are some operatives who succumb to PTSD - especially once they’ve left the Regiment, and many find it difficult to return to civilian life.

 

There are also traditions which are upheld, one of which is a booze-up in the mess. Most operatives leave a significant amount of money in their will for the purpose and at the wake, their kit is auctioned, with the proceeds going to their next of kin.

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The Regiment itself has a long-standing tradition of honouring those who have died by adding their names to a plaque on the clock tower at Sterling Lines, the SAS HQ in Hereford. Thereafter, they are referred to as one of  "those who did not beat the clock.”