SAS soldiers are extremely discreet; they generally don't tell people they're in the Special Air Service, even family and friends, beyond a very small circle, and certainly not strangers, due to strict secrecy, security protocols, and the potential for legal action or expulsion if they reveal classified information, with most chatter about being SAS usually indicating they are not.
The SAS is a secret organisation. Its members often do not tell anyone except close family that they are in it.
Are SAS and SBS personnel allowed to tell their loved ones that they are part of such special force group? Of course.
They don't exactly keep it “secret” per se. They just don't talk about it to anyone who doesn't need to know, which is nearly everyone.
Yes, members of Special Operations Forces are allowed to tell their family and friends that they serve in these units.
The short answer is this: if your online friend asks for money, for any reason, they're a scammer. Everything about their posts and profile is designed to seem real. These scammers often steal real military servicemembers' names and photos for their fake profiles.
Soldiers using social media must abide by the UCMJ at all times, even when off duty. Commenting, posting and linking to material that violates the UCMJ or basic rules of Soldier conduct are prohibited, along with talking negatively about supervisors or releasing sensitive information. IAW AR 600-20(5), para.
An Australian SAS soldier's salary starts with standard ADF pay scales, but escalates significantly with allowances and rank, with entry-level Special Forces Operators earning around $103,000+ annually plus benefits, while experienced personnel receive substantial bonuses, field allowances, and higher pay, making total compensation vary widely but generally exceeding standard Army wages, with potential for much higher earnings with promotions and deployment.
Paddy Mayne's reputation in the SAS: how his legend was born
Paddy Mayne went on to lead a series of successful desert raids in Africa, helping to build the SAS's reputation as an ever-present threat to the enemy's tail, while becoming an inspiration to the tough ex-commandos serving under him.
Neither SAS nor SBS is definitively "more elite"; they are equally elite but specialized, with the SAS focusing on land/air and the SBS on maritime/amphibious roles, both part of the UK's UK Special Forces (UKSF) and sharing the same rigorous Joint Special Forces Selection process, with SBS adding extra maritime training like swimmer-canoeist skills. Think of them as the Army's and Navy's top-tier counterparts within the same elite special forces framework.
It's okay to participate in social media activities like blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and identify yourself as a SAS employee if you have a legitimate business purpose to do so and if your manager agrees.
BEAR GRYLLS OBE, has become known worldwide as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. Trained from a young age in martial arts, Grylls went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, as part of 21 SAS Regiment.
In 1959, at the age of eighteen, Wiseman became the youngest person ever to pass selection for the SAS, joining from the Parachute Regiment, which he had joined a year earlier. He went on to serve in the SAS for 26 years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer.
Applying for the SAS
21 and 23 SAS processes applications from male and female applicants, with no previous military service. Applicants must be no older than 47 years 6 months when applying to join the Army Reserve (AR).
Why the secrecy? Special Forces rely on their ability to go unnoticed, so secrecy is key. Beyond rumours, the public had little information about Special Forces. Today, technology and the media have increased the chances of secret information being revealed, either deliberately or accidentally.
Opportunities exist for members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to serve in Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SASR); invariably known as either the SAS or 'the Regiment'. The route into the SASR for all ADF personnel is via a highly structured and formal selection and training process.
It was at Lake Comacchio overnight on April 8/9, 1945, that a courageous young officer, Major Anders Lassen, became the first – and, to this day, only – member of Britain's famous SAS regiment to be awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).
SAS training is far harder. SEALs are absolutely some of the best Special Operations troops in the world. That said, the real comparison is SAS / SBS and Delta / DEVGRU — SEAL Team 6. SEAL enlisted and officers can go to BUDs after their initial training.
In the 2022 BBC TV series SAS: Rogue Heroes, the failure of the Derna raid and its betrayal by Brueckner are depicted in one of the episodes.
A special mission unit (SMU), at one time referred to as a "tier 1" unit, is a designation for the United States military's most highly secretive and elite special operations forces. The term special missions unit is also used in Australia to describe the Special Air Service Regiment.
Captain: £52,815 per annum.
Army Special Forces (SF) have Special Operations Team-Alpha that can operate with an SF team, or independently. This low-level collection team typically has four men.
Though written correspondence was once the most common form of keeping in touch while away from home in the Military, modern means such as calling, video conferencing, text messaging and emails are now the norm. While deployed there are also some lesser-known methods of keeping in contact.
If you're one of many wondering how to check if a soldier is real, we have some questions for you to consider:
Personnel are not to delete text messages (SMS, 3rd Party Apps) on government devices. The use of 3rd Party Messaging Applications, such as Signal or WhatsApp, on MobileDevices requires SECNAV approval.