Editing Special Air Service (section)

==Recruitment and training==
{{Main|United Kingdom Special Forces Selection}}
[[File:Pen y Fan from Cribyn.jpg|alt=snow and frost covered mountain peak|thumb|[[Pen y Fan]] {{convert|2907|ft|0}} above sea level, the location for the [[Fan Dance (exercise)|Fan Dance]]]]

The first version of the SAS selection course was created by [[John Woodhouse (British Army officer)|John Woodhouse]] in 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Woodhouse |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/john-woodhouse-679r66pj6t7 |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241102223531/https://www.thetimes.com/article/john-woodhouse-679r66pj6t7 |archive-date=2 Nov 2024 |language=en |date=21 February 2008 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=Chris |author1-link=Chris Ryan |title=The history of the SAS: as told by the men on the ground |date=2019 |publisher=Coronet |location=London |isbn=978-1529324662 |language=en |chapter=Chapter 6: SAS Selection |quote=A lot of the credit for the creation and development of Selection has to go to John Woodhouse, CO of 22 SAS in the early 1960s and one of the Malaya veterans originally recruited by Mike Calvert. A fearsomely determined soldier, who had seen action in North Africa and Italy during the Second World War, Woodhouse had a huge influence on the Regiment, setting up the original Selection course in 1952.}}</ref> The United Kingdom Special Forces do not recruit directly from the general public.<ref name=ry17>Ryan, p. 17</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=21 & 23 SAS (Reserve)|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603095722/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|url-status=live}}</ref> All current members of the UK Armed Forces can apply for Special Forces selection, but the majority of candidates have historically come from a Royal Marines or Parachute Regiment background.<ref>Ryan, p. 15</ref> Selections are held twice a year, once in summer and again in winter.<ref name=ry17/>

Typically only 10% of candidates make it through the initial selection process.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D’Costa |first=Ian |date=2020-04-24 |title=This Is What Makes SAS Selection the Toughest in the World |url=https://www.military.com/off-duty/2020/04/24/what-makes-sas-selection-toughest-world.html |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=Military.com |language=en |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173018/https://www.military.com/off-duty/2020/04/24/what-makes-sas-selection-toughest-world.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Between 2014 and 2022 there were more deaths in training and exercises than in combat against armed threats.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Overton |first=Iain |date=2023-08-02 |title=Death in the mountains: British SAS fatalities during military training examined |url=https://aoav.org.uk/2023/death-in-the-mountains-british-sas-fatalities-during-military-training-examined/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=AOAV |language=en-US}}</ref> In a group of approximately 200 candidates, most will drop out within the first few days, and fewer than 30 will remain by the end. Those who complete all phases of selection are transferred to an operational squadron.<ref>Ryan, p. 25</ref>

For applicants to the reserve component, [[Artists Rifles|21 SAS]] and [[23 SAS]], the pathway involves comparable elements, apart from jungle training, but taken in blocks, spread out over a longer period, to fit in with the demands of participants' civilian careers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|title=21 & 23 SAS (Reserve)|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603095722/https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2018, recruitment policy changed to allow women to become members of the SAS for the first time.<ref>{{cite news | title=Men still pick "blue" jobs and women "pink" jobs | newspaper=[[The Economist]] | date=16 February 2019 | url=https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2019/02/16/men-still-pick-blue-jobs-and-women-pink-jobs | access-date=13 February 2023 | url-access=subscription | archive-date=13 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213201014/https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2019/02/16/men-still-pick-blue-jobs-and-women-pink-jobs | url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2021, two women became the first to pass the pre-selection course, making them eligible for the full course.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/two-women-sas-selection-first-time-ever|title=Two women up for SAS selection for first time ever|website=Forces Network|date=9 August 2021 |access-date=24 April 2022|archive-date=20 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320032157/https://www.forces.net/news/two-women-sas-selection-first-time-ever|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first phase of selection, aptitude phase, lasts 4 weeks and takes place in the [[Brecon Beacons]].<ref>{{cite news |title=What Do SAS Selection Tests Involve? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/what-do-sas-selection-tests-involve-10357417 |access-date=17 June 2023 |work=Sky News |date=1 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617182633/https://news.sky.com/story/what-do-sas-selection-tests-involve-10357417 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |language=en |quote=The aptitude phase lasts for four weeks, and begins with a physical endurance test, which focuses on the fitness and strength of recruits and sees a large majority of them eliminated. The tests are carried out on the rugged and sprawling landscape of the Brecon Beacons, which provides the ideal terrain to prepare them physically and mentally for missions.}}</ref> This phase also involves training in [[Sennybridge]], and normally starts with approximately 200 potential candidates.<ref name=ry17/> Candidates complete a Personal Fitness Test (PFT) upon arrival, which consists of at least 50 [[Sit-up (exercise)|sit-ups]] in two minutes, 60 [[press-up]]s in two minutes, and a {{Convert|1.5|mi|adj=on}} run in 10 minutes and 30 seconds. They then complete an [[Annual Fitness Test]] (AFT), which consists of marching {{convert|8|mi}} in two hours while carrying {{Cvt|25|lb}} of equipment.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=4 June 2010|title=PT booklet (PDF format)|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ptbooklet.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210103733/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ptbooklet.pdf|archive-date=10 December 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Candidates then march cross-country against the clock, increasing the distance covered each day; this culminates in an endurance test known as the "Endurance", in which candidates march {{convert|40|mi}} with full equipment before climbing up and down the mountain [[Pen y Fan]] (886 m; 2,907&nbsp;ft) in 20 hours.<ref name=ry17/> By the end of this phase, candidates must then be able to run {{convert|4|mi}} in 30 minutes or less and swim {{convert|2|mi}} in 90 minutes or less.<ref name=ry17/>

After completing aptitude phase, officer candidates are required to spend a week assessing their ability to carry out planning for UKSF operations while fatigued and stressed.<ref>{{cite book |last1=MacKenzie |first1=Alastair |title=Pilgrim Days |date= 2020 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=9781472833198 |page=111}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Guthrie |first1=Charles |title=Peace, War and Whitehall |date= 2021 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1472852328 |pages=56–57}}</ref> Following mountain training, the jungle phase takes place in [[Belize]], [[Brunei]], or [[Malaysia]].<ref>Ryan, p. 19</ref> Candidates are taught navigation, patrol formation and movement, and jungle survival skills.<ref>Ryan, p. 21</ref> Candidates then return to the UK to begin training in battle plans and foreign weapons, and then take part in combat survival exercises, ending in week-long escape and evasion training.<ref>Ryan, p. 23</ref> Candidates are formed into patrols and, with nothing more than a tin can filled with survival equipment, are dressed in [[World War II]]-era uniforms and told to head for a particular destination by sunrise. The final selection test, [[resistance to interrogation]] (RTI), lasts for 36 hours.<ref>Ryan, p. 24</ref>