Hello,
With this post, I want to bring some details about the two books to sort of compare them. As a disclaimer, I will not end up saying that one is better overall. In my opinion, they both have great value and it may be possible to get the best of both of them.
Both books are designed to successfully pass the selection of Special Operations. BTE, even if more inclined toward SEAL is more "general" because it delivers a lot of tools and principles. This makes it more flexible. On the flip side, it makes it harder to use because we have to tailor it to our needs.
On the other hand, SAS is clearly designed for this unit. Of course, the rigors of the training will teach us a lot, so we may be able to then use them for any other selection process.
As such, they are not designed to teach us how to "maintain" physical abilities. That being said, BTE can be used as such due to the tools it provides, even if this is not the main purpose.
1. "Building the Elite", from Craig Weller & Jonathan Pope.
From the website where we can get the book,
Building the Elite, here is the link to get the bio of the authors:
Coaches - Building the Elite
To sum it up, C. Weller is a former NSWCC and J. Pope is an S&C coach.
This book is then written by two American people. This has some importance in terms of how the training is designed.
The first part is more theory-based. The second part refers to the practical applications.
For both of them, content is very dense. To a certain extent, it is possible to first pick up and read what we are interested in. As there are plenty of references, we can easily go from a chapter to another to get a deeper dive if we want to or need to.
This is a book we have to read several times, to get the most out of it.
The first portion, which is more theory-based, mostly covers what I would call the "training psychology" and provides a lot of tips. This part may be fairly useful as the tools inside obviously apply to training but also to daily life:
- how can we build mental and physical resilience
- how can we deal with uncertainty: he give very easy tricks to "spice" training and daily life
- how can we deal with complex things, which is basically tools for any kind of problem solving
- how can we manage stress, pain and fatigue, and even use them as "fuel". This is based on mental models, perceptions, way of thinking (positive self talks, etc...)
From a more "hard science" standpoint, he mentions the nutrition:
- the notion of metabolic flexibility and gives us strategy about how to use both carbs and fats
- how to work make our body adapted to different diet (and of course to keep performing well)
He also talks about the different energy systems and why we have to work all of them to be well rounded (aerobic, anaerobic, etc...)
As far as the training per se goes:
- He does not deliver a follow-along routine. Indeed, he states that there is not necessarily a programme which will work for everyone because we are all different: the goal may be the same, but the variables to manipulate may be different. For instance, to become an operator, a deskjob guy working indoor 35 hours a week will not have the same programme and mindset than a brick layer working outdoor 50+ hours
- Still, he offers several programming example of successful folks
- He generally favours to first learn a very clean technique (a skill is different from the ability) then he develops a routine around it. This is very progressive.
- Usually, we first have to assess what our limiting factors are, then reduce them (using feedback tools he provides)
- He offers a wide variety of strength methods: EDT, Clusters, PAP, HICT. Considering them, there are a few common points: rest between exercises and sets is reduced to the minimum (so the weights may be lighter than what we are used to with StrongFirst) and volume is significant.
- There is a daily training, even if some days are dedicated to strength (we consider that the cardio will ramp up anyway due to the reduced rest) and some other are purely dedicated to conditioning, whether it is running, rucking, swimming.
- Most of the time, he prefers playing with only one variable: volume. Indeed, when we start to play with both volume and intensity - meaning weight - we can not precisely determine to what factor we are positively or negatively responding.
- In both the programming examples and the tools he provides, several sometimes, several daily session will be necessary. Usually, strength sessions does not last that long. However, rucking and running are necessarily longer (up to 2-3h)
- Even if there are training blokcs (aerobic phase, strength phase, etc...) each day is dedicated to a specific topic so training is very diversified
2. "SAS and Special Forces Fitness Training", from John Lofty Wiseman
This book is written by a former operator, who now provides survival courses and things along these lines.
As I mentioned earlier, this is SAS-oriented. This means he covers all the selection phases and gives very precises tips (such as sock management !) which can litterally make the difference between success and failure considering the kind of training they do.
Comparing to BTE and its way of presenting tools and principles, this book is more "raw". He gives very straight-forward programmes, for both calisthenics and weightlifing. These programmes go from beginners to advanced. All of them are based on a significant volume. Training is performed daily. In the end of the training cycle, it ramps up to 3 training sessions a day, lasting roughly 1h each.
SAS selection is mostly based on endurance, even if obviously, strength is also important. Considering it, there is no research - or at least way less - of max strength / near max strength because this could lead to an increase of bodymass. Eventually, this becomes a drawback considering the events.
Indeed, at the end of the process, people have to do a 60km march, with a little bit more than 30kg (does not include weapon, etc...) in the Beacon Brecon in 20 hours. But this is the last event, there plenty of other of the same kind before, which are daily performed. Basically, from a day to another, rucks are longer with a heavier weight, and also with a faster pace.
This is why, on the WE, the programme calls for long marches which really replicates the selection, including overnight runs / rucks.
He gives some nutrition tips, but way more shortly than BTE. He also provides, based on experience, the height to weight ratio of successful applicants. This is interesting because it sheds light on the fact that too heavy folks are less likely to pass due to lack of stamina / endurance (engine to carry). Too light people can not handle the rucksack on the long marches and do not have enough energy reserves to pass through.
Environnment is also considered in the book. He teaches tips and tricks of temperature management. He also gives details about how to stay dry and warm in the Wales.
A significant part of the selection is also based on navigation skill. This is why he explains how we can navigate using a map.
Mental aspect and "theories" are less developped than in BTE. From my understanding, this is mostly due to the fact that he relies on the physical training we do, to find our own " pyschological tips". They remains the same than in BTE or for any tough selection:
- knowing our "why"
- positive thinking
- being resilient
Kind regards,
Pet'
