Getting into the UK's Special Boat Service (SBS) is extremely difficult, considered one of the toughest special forces selections globally, with very high attrition (around 95%), testing extreme physical endurance (long, heavy marches, intense swimming/underwater tasks) and mental resilience through prolonged, gruelling phases like jungle warfare, SERE, and swimmer-canoist training, requiring candidates to be already highly fit members of the UK Armed Forces.
The selection process for entry into the SBS, along with the SAS, is undoubtedly the toughest of any of the worldwide Special Forces. What makes it so tough is the fact that it tests both one's physical and mental stamina over a prolonged period of time.
With the SBS (until recently) drawing its ranks from the Royal Marines, it is suggested that an SBS operator has a greater level of experience of soldiering than many of their SAS counterparts. The demands of working in the water demands a higher level of fitness and mental toughness than the SAS.
Qualification. To be eligible for selection, a candidate must be male, and must have have served in the military for at least 18 months and have 3 years left to serve.
To put it simply, they jump, dive, and shoot, just like the Special Boat Service does. Which should come as no surprise, as these two units are leveraged in almost the exact same way. They are considered equivalents by many, and are even of similar size, having between 200 and 300 operators.
The pass rate for Royal Marine Commados is around 15%, the pass rate for SAS and SBS selection is the same at around 5% although SBS candidates do have do pass the swimmer canoeist (SC3) training course failure of which is rare.
Applying for the SBS
Applicants must be no older than 42 years 6 months on commencement of the Aptitude phase of SBS(R) Selection. Applicants must be able to commit to intense and extended training demands, be willing to deploy overseas and commit to operations.
We enlisted 15 of the best of the best Special Forces around the world.
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.
Under the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991 (SBS Act), SBS can generate revenue by broadcasting and publishing advertising (including sponsorship announcements).
SBS is an acronym with several meanings, most commonly referring to Australia's Special Broadcasting Service (a public broadcaster) or, in UK military/migration contexts, the Special Boat Service or Standard Business Sponsorship; it also stands for Short Bowel Syndrome in medicine and can mean Small Brain Syndrome in internet slang. The specific meaning depends heavily on the context.
To create an account with us, simply visit: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/ and click on "Create Account" in the top right hand corner. Once the above details have been successfully entered, you'll see the below notification advising an email has been sent to your inbox to verify your account.
The Army age range for joining and attending the Special Forces training pipeline is 20-36. Age waivers may be granted based on military qualifications and individual evaluations.
Still, it's clear to see that service personnel tend to struggle with divorce more frequently than many other jobs. This could be due to the increased stress and time spent away from home or might be caused by military members getting married too young in an effort to receive benefits.
The SAS is a secret organisation. Its members often do not tell anyone except close family that they are in it.
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.
The first on the list would the be US Navy Seals. Although one would argue that the British SAS ranks higher than the SEALS, but it is widely accepted that the US Navy SEALS are the best when it comes to SF. Born in 1962, the Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land Teams) are America's elite maritime special operations force.
Civil Affairs Group, the civil-military operations coordinators of the United States Marine Corps. Commander Air Group, most senior officer of the embarked squadrons in a carrier air wing. Delta Force (also Combat Applications Group), a special operations force of the United States Army.
The average SBS salary ranges from approximately £19,000 per year for Software Development Specialist to £70,000 per year for Business Intelligence Analyst.
In 1987, when renamed the Special Boat Service, the SBS was also reformed along SAS lines, with 16-person troops (each equivalent to a platoon) instead of the traditional sections. About 200–250 commandos make up the SBS at any one time, and once qualified, personnel are known as "Swimmer Canoeists".
After completion of 6 years TIS, Sailors may then be transitioned to the IRR to serve the remainder of their MSO. On a typical 8-year contract, this would amount to 4 years of active duty, 2 years of SELRES, and 2 years of IRR; hence the popular 4-2-2.
Recruits are exposed to high levels of psychological and physical stress during the special forces selection period, resulting in dropout rates of up to 80%.
Generally, it follows the “rule of three,” meaning there are three lower units within each of the next larger units. Teams consist of three Marines with a corporal as team leader. A squad consists of nine Marines with a sergeant as the squad lead. Platoons consist of 27 Marines with a lieutenant in command.
Commando Green (Commando Forces/Royal Marines) The Commando Green Beret is famously worn by the Royal Marines and Members of the Special Boat Squadron SBS however it is also worn by attached ranks to 3 Commando Brigade, Only those attached ranks who have passed the elite All Arms Commando Course are entitled to wear ...