Editing Special Boat Service (section)

==Recruitment, selection and training==

===Pre-selection aptitude test===

Before progressing to joint UKSF selection, SBS aspirants must pass a 2-week aptitude test, which involves the following:{{sfn|Parker|2013|loc=Epilogue}}
* Boating phase (1 week)
** Combat fitness test
** SBS swimming test
*** Swim 600 metres in 15 minutes
*** Swim 50 metres clothed with a weapon and belt
*** Swim 25 metres underwater while holding your breath
** Multiple canoe trials including:
*** Carrying a folding canoe and fully loaded bergen for {{convert|3|mi|km}}
*** {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=on}} canoe paddle
* Diving phase (1 week)
** Complete a number of dives with confidence and willingness
** Learn and demonstrate diving drills with sufficient quality

===UKSF selection===

{{See also|UK Joint Special Forces Selection}}

SBS candidates take part in Joint Special Forces Selection alongside SAS candidates, with their selection and training diverging after the end of the JSFS course. JSFS lasts ≈&nbsp;6 months. It is broken down into multiple phases, including cross-country marches in the aptitude phase and teaching and testing soldiering skills in the jungle phase. It also involves training in other fields, such escape and evasion and [[resistance to interrogation]] (RTI).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1212199,00.html | location=London | title=UK forces taught torture methods | date=8 May 2004 |work=The Guardian  | first=David | last=Leigh|access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>

Originally, the SBS had its own independent end-to-end selection programme to qualify as a [[Frogman|Swimmer Canoeist]], but its selection course was integrated into the joint UKSF selection course with candidates for the SAS. In the past, the SBS was staffed almost entirely by the Royal Marines. Today, all members of His Majesty's Armed Forces can be considered for special forces selection.{{#tag:ref|The regular elements of United Kingdom Special Forces never recruit directly from the general public.{{sfn|Ryan|2009|p=17}}|group=nb}} Approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces are recruited from the Royal Marines.{{sfn|Royal Marines|2015|p=78}}

There are two selection courses each year: one in Winter and the other in Summer.{{sfn|Ryan|2009|p=17}} Candidates wishing to serve with the Special Boat Service must have completed at least two years regular service and are only accepted into the SBS after completion of the selection process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines/careers/your-questions-answered/ask-us/search-results/how-do-you-join-the-sbs/*/changeNav/7137|title=How do you join the SBS (Special Boat Service)?|website=Royal Navy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806181117/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/royalmarines/careers/your-questions-answered/ask-us/search-results/how-do-you-join-the-sbs/*/changeNav/7137|archive-date=6 August 2009}}</ref>

====SC3 course====

After passing joint UKSF selection, at which point SAS aspirants have passed, SBS aspirants continue to the Swimmer Canoeist, Third Class<ref>{{cite book |last1=Welham |first1=Michael G. |title=Combat Divers: An Illustrated History of Special Forces Divers |date=19 January 2023 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9781472856029 |page=164}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Government of Her Majesty's Naval Service |date=1953 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |page=20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KiwtAQAAMAAJ |access-date=25 May 2023}}</ref> (SC3) course, sometimes called the boating and diving course.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cawthorne |first1=Nigel |title=The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces |date=2012 |isbn=9781780337319 |chapter=Qualification|publisher=Little, Brown Book }}</ref><ref name="bennett-2011"/> It lasts eight weeks and covers specialist maritime skills such as canoeing, diving, boating, underwater navigation and demolition, negotiating surf zones, and submarine infiltration.<ref name="bennett-2011">{{cite book |last1=Bennett |first1=Richard M |title=Elite Forces |date=2011 |isbn=9780753547649 |chapter=UK |publisher=Random House |quote=SBS students go on to their own 8-week boating and diving course, including underwater navigation and demolition, negotiating surf zones and navigating a 55km course in the Klepper canoe, and infiltration via submarine. Following this Marines are rated as Swimmer Canoeist Class 3, and entitled to wear the badge of this specialist qualification on the left cuff of their blue and green dress uniforms, " SC" over a wreath.}}</ref>{{sfn|Parker|2013|loc=Epilogue}} The course includes a {{convert|55|km|mi|order=flip|adj=on}} course in a canoe. After passing the SC3 course, SBS aspirants have passed selection as a whole and join an operational troop on probation.<ref name="stilwell-2014">{{cite book |last1=Stilwell |first1=Alexander |last2=Ryan |first2=Mike |last3=Mann |first3=Chris |title=The Encyclopedia of the World's Special Forces |date=6 March 2014 |publisher=Amber Books |isbn=9781907446894}}</ref> As SBS marines grow in experience and rank, they take the more advanced SC2 and then SC1 courses.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bennett |first1=Richard M |title=Elite Forces |date=2011 |isbn=9780753547649 |chapter=UK |publisher=Random House |quote=For Marines to be promoted to Corporal they must qualify as SC2 and to Sergeant {{sic|SC3|expected=SC1}}. These advanced training courses emphasize operational planning and training supervision. Promotion to Sergeant also requires passing the Senior Command Course at the CTC, Lympstone in East Devon.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Paul K |last2=Hamilton |first2=Allen Lee |title=Encyclopedia of Warrior Peoples and Fighting Groups |date=29 August 2023 |isbn=9781592371167 |page=305 |publisher=Grey House |quote=At this point, one becomes a Swimmer Canoeist Third Class. Even more courses are required for promotion to SC Second and First Class, which gives one the rank of corporal and sergeant, respectively.}}</ref>

===Reserve selection===
For SBS(R) selection, only candidates with previous military experience are eligible to enlist. Training is carried out in the South of England and candidates are required to complete the following tests over the four-day initial selection course:
* Combat Fitness Test (CFT)&nbsp;– {{convert|12.8|km|mi|0|abbr=on|adj=on}} carrying {{convert|25|kg|lb|abbr=on}} within 1 hour 50 minutes.
* Swim test&nbsp;– {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on}} using any stroke in uniform and retrieve an object from {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
* Gym tests.
* Advanced CFT 1&nbsp;– {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on|adj=on}} carrying {{convert|25|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.
* Advanced CFT 2&nbsp;– {{convert|24|km|mi|abbr=on|adj=on}} carrying {{convert|30|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=sbsr/>