Other/Mixed Suggested programm or book for special forces

[Lotto]

Hi @Pet. That is a well written and informative piece. I think it has been continually edited though. (Which is a positive thing) The historical references are accurate as are the test week time table if this is what you specifically want to know. The editing serves to keep the piece relevant. The author mentions Captain Rosie Wild which was a 2020 event, but all linked videos are dated, but still represent their intended purpose. An accurate and up to date piece? Yes I would say so.

 

[pet']

Hello,

@Lotto
Thanks !

Out of curiosity, what are the main differences between Paratroopers and SAS ? Indeed, both of them seem to have a pretty grueling selection and receive a parachute training.

Kind regards,

Pet'

 

[Lotto]

@pet'
There is vast differences between the paras and SAS. Paras are classed as elite forces, SAS as special forces.
You join the paras as a civilian. To join the SAS you must already be a serving member of the British Army, (paras reside here) Royal Navy or Royal Air Force.
Selection for the SAS is in addition to the requirements you have already met and passed to be a member of your parent unit. The idea of the SAS is to take the best personnel from across all services and create a unit that has a high degree of experience and blendable skills and further train them into specialists across many disciplines. You were asking specifically about parachute training. So every para going for SAS selection will already have his 'wings'. The individuals skill set will namely be static line jumps. If successful at SAS selection and their new role requires airborne insertion, then they will train in free fall HALO (high altitude low opening, LALO low altitude low opening both day and night over land and sea etc) So in general a more accomplished parachutist.
If passing SAS initial selection and you have come from a unit that does not require you to have wings, then you will be put through P Company to earn them, and perhaps specialize thereafter if required in your role.
The SAS gives the individual a chance to have a really broad skillset. Although this is not always what a para strives for or wants. The paras Holy Grail could be to become a member of the Pathfinders. A unit that selects from only their own ranks and further train to become what is arguably the toughest 'green soldier' role available.
Like the Special Boat Service (SBS) only filling their ranks from Royal Marines, they consider themselves to be the ultimate in maritime operations.
The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) like the SAS recruit across Tri service but fulfill a specialist and unique role.
An SAS soldier trains in all the disciplines but not to the absolute specialist levels that can be found in dedicated units.

 

[pet']

Hello,

@Lotto
Once again, thank you for your answer.

From what I read, it really seems that European SF are more "strength-endurance" oriented. Of course, max strength is important (especially because it helps to build endurance) but it does not seem to be the primary focus in training.

I tend to train with a circuit of "low rep" but hard variation (HSPU, pistol, weighted pull up) as it transfer very well to endurance. Recently I added a high rep routine for the core, because it seems that low reps do not give lot of core endurance (contrary to low rep with push up for instance).

It will may be a little bit out of the original post, but from a psychological standpoint, are there specific traits or training ?

Kind regards,

Pet'

 

[Lotto]

Hi @pet'
I'm not sure I entirely understand your question.
P Company training (I'm only concentrating on the physical side) over its entirety is aiming to get a previously loosely conditioned civilian to a standard where they could pass P Company test week as a series of individual assessments.
Having the ability to pass the tests individually is not the point though.
So they culminate in 'Test Week', where tests follow each other and you are under the microscope to perform and achieve exacting standards.
Again not hard for the physically able, but this test phase comes at the end of 21 weeks of grueling military training. Most recruits are carrying minor injuries, bergan sores, blisters, missing toe/finger nails, broken fingers etc. The mental stress of having come so far and living all week in the shadow of fear of failing to achieve your ambitions Suffering from lack of sleep and general fatigue, all these factors combined makes Test Week an entirely different prospect under those conditions.
And this is the aim, only those with strong mental resolve will pass. Those willing to push themselves through unimaginable physical pain to reach an objective will pass. There rest will fail. Not always because they lack physical ability, but they lack the physiological ability.
How do the training staff create this physiological ability? They don't, it is already there, for most it is the desire to wear the coveted maroon beret. The training staff just help extract that desire, especially when you are lost and questioning yourself.

 

[pet']

Hello,

@Lotto

I'm not sure I entirely understand your question.

When we read books and article about special operation training / selection or elite forces, most the time, the writer put a strong focus on the purely physical side. With my last post, my purpose was to extend to the mental side of selection and training, as I think it may also be important.

For instance, the Commando Marine instructor I mentioned earlier states that "physical requirement may be tough, but not that much with a minimal amount of work. The most important is being able to dig deep in our mental ressources. 80% of selection is mental, 20% is physical".

So my topic here could be something like "how is developped this ability to dig deep ?"

We sometimes hear or read about "stress inoculation" to develop resilience, both mental and physical. Creating physical resilience is "easy", but what about the mental ? Basically, in daily life, how is it possible to train it ?

As an example, taking cold shower quickly becomes easy, even if this is "uncomfortable". But up to a point, how can we go further ?

Kind regards,

Pet'

Kind regards,

Pet'

 

[Lotto]

Hi @pet'. I would concur with your Marine Commando assesment of the 80/20% split.

Basically, in daily life, how is it possible to train it ?

That's an interesting question and I'd be keen to know more myself. My own experiences of requiring to use mental fortitude has been born from the desire to achieve an end goal and have no feeling of failure. I wonder if you can even train physiological 'hardness' Maybe it is just the amount of desire an individual wants to commit to a cause?

 

[offwidth]

Basically, in daily life, how is it possible to train it ?

I suppose that to a great degree it depends upon what ones ‘daily life’ consists of. I would wager that many peoples daily life does not have opportunities, circumstances, or the environments necessary to train the mental hardness that you are describing. The rigors imposed by SF training, constant tactical situations, hard alpine climbing, and the like are out of reach to most for a variety of reasons.

Most of our daily lives (including training) is just too soft...

 

[Tigger]

Here's an idea. Go on /r/ultralight or /r/thruhiking and get an idea of the gear needed to be comfortable surviving out of a ruck for months on end. Baseweight around 12lbs. Gain the skills to navigate and live off trail. Add 20-30 more pounds or switch to the Ranger School packing list and reduce comfort to survivability ratings. Don't use the sleep system unless you're gonna die. Really. Now, plan a long walk, 25-35 mi a day, through difficult terrain. Water crossings, swamp crossings, thickets, elevation change, etc. 5+ days. You'll be cold, hungry, tired hot etc etc and still have to think to get to your next spot and survive. Plan a complex and exhausting task at each rest spot. You'll learn thermal management, systems management, navigation, planning, decision making, logistics, yadda yadda. Beware heading out there without the necessary skills ; you could very easily die of exposure depending on conditions. Bring an emergency beacon or have a very solid backup plan for when you're hypothermic/dehydrated what have you and can't think straight anymore.

Weirdly, you probably won't do much pressing or squatting, but lots of hinging and carrying (rucking) during this type of training.

 

[Tigger]

No headlamps while rucking. Move mostly at night. No trekking poles, carry a 10lb mace. Cotton BDUs. Carry your stove but only use for emergencies.

 

[pet']

Hello,

I remember a video where a recruit had a lighter. The instructor saw it and asked the recruit why he has this. He answered 'to eat warm'. The instructor then said 'just forger it and eat cold'.

I got more resilience and toughness over the past few years due to life but not due to training
- death of my grand father
- my father was diagnosed a cancer and almost die last year. He is still sick
- my mother broke her hip one month ago
- I talked with Bedouin in Jordan

It gives a purpose because I now know:
- focus on the most important things (health, care of my loved ones)
- why I do certain things (like training)
- I learnt how to put into perspective and being positive, being combative
- my grand father, who passed away gives me 'example' and some kind of mentorship

Kind regards,

Pet'

 

[kiwipete]

@pet' My thoughts... although I'm not sure how well I've communicated it...

Going through army training in my early twenties I viewed the question, "Am I tough enough?" through the lens of, "Did I pass this selection course or that phase of training."

Almost twenty years later I know I'm tough enough because I've challenged myself in ways the army or the selection course never could:

Immigrated across the world on my own

Challenged myself emotionally, spiritually and cognitively

Became a husband and a father

Had three very different careers

Lived through years of earthquakes

Life is the training ground and the testing ground all in one - no selection course can come near to the toughness it takes to live life, be loving, kind, put others first and commit to doing the mundane daily chores of life.

Although these army selection courses seem like a good 'yard stick' the real test of them all is the commitment to train on your own for months / years before hand, when no-one is watching (or gives a sh&t).

Which reminds me of this nice quote

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."

Muhammad Ali

 

[pet']

Hello,

@kiwipete
I completely agree with you. My greatest "progression" regarding the mental aspect of life has been teached by life itself, not by a specific training.

I chose "challenging" path by travelling a lot (so being far from family, far from Madame) when I was student. It forced me to get out my comfort zone on a very regular basis.

My current job as in financial consulting makes me go from a company to another on a regular basis. Then I have to [re]learn quite often. This jobs pushes me often (too often ?) out of my comfort zone.

From there, it also teached me a lot about stoicism and resilience.

It seems that there is no real "mental training" other life itself. Getting through hard times, then having time to recover from it, as a wave seem to be how mental toughness / resilience.

On a regular basis, maybe the idea of never choosing the "easy" way or committing to challenging (but atteinable) goal may be an option: For instance, I chose to re build my bathroom from zero, I often get down from the public transportation before my destination, I go outside no matter the weather, etc... I think this is also a matter of telling to ourself that failure is not an option. But it does not have to prevent us to learn from failure, even if this is uncomfortable as well.

Kind regards,

Pet'

 

[kiwipete]

Hello,

@kiwipete
I completely agree with you. My greatest "progression" regarding the mental aspect of life has been teached by life itself, not by a specific training.

I chose "challenging" path by travelling a lot (so being far from family, far from Madame) when I was student. It forced me to get out my comfort zone on a very regular basis.

My current job as in financial consulting makes me go from a company to another on a regular basis. Then I have to [re]learn quite often. This jobs pushes me often (too often ?) out of my comfort zone.

From there, it also teached me a lot about stoicism and resilience.

It seems that there is no real "mental training" other life itself. Getting through hard times, then having time to recover from it, as a wave seem to be how mental toughness / resilience.

On a regular basis, maybe the idea of never choosing the "easy" way or committing to challenging (but atteinable) goal may be an option: For instance, I chose to re build my bathroom from zero, I often get down from the public transportation before my destination, I go outside no matter the weather, etc... I think this is also a matter of telling to ourself that failure is not an option. But it does not have to prevent us to learn from failure, even if this is uncomfortable as well.

Kind regards,

Pet'

Agree!!

Thinking about Maslow's theory of hierarchal needs.... to have the choice to pick your 'challenge', because you are already surviving (food, water, shelter, friends, family etc) in today's world is a gift (at least it is to me!)

 

[pet']

Hello,

-Focus on 4-5 cardio sessions a week. All at MAF pace. Unless you just have a personal desire to run really fast you can pass most of your run standards doing little to no dedicated speed work. Make 1-2 of them a ruck. You don't need to train rucks heavy. Or fast. At all. Just get your body used to the movement and dig deep only when it's required. I rarely went faster than a 14:30 mile with more than 25-30lbs in training and could do 12 miles with 45lbs dry in around 2 hours and 10 minutes. On deployment I regularly carried a 70lb ruck on top of 30lbs of body armor and gear at a bodyweight of 240lb for infils up to 14K through the mountains at 9k plus elevation. Night after night.

You mention "dig deep only when it's required". Where does this ability of digging deep come from ?

Indeed, I slowly built up until rucking with 52kg for 45 minutes or hours with 32kg. But when I see your post, it seems almost "useless" or even harmful assuming we can dig deep. I have always thought that if I can ruck with heavy weight, I can ruck with lighter weight for longer. But I have never thought that lighter weight could transfer to heavier weight for longer times. If so, this is good news !

Does it come from the volume you do overtime, with lighter weight (and so, which directly transfer to longer "events" with heavier weight) ? Indeed, what you did on deployment is way "beyond" your training. This is fairly impressive !

Kind regards,

Pet'

 

[Antti]

Regarding the psychological strength.

I have not been through any special tests, just the run of the mill army tests, so take this with a grain of salt. Still, I suppose the psychological stress due to circumstances is highly individual so I wouldn't look too much into any one individual and his way of coping, no matter how much it looks like he has gone through. We all have our own cross to bear, so to say.

But I would recommend a practice of meditation, which would, in time, turn into a some kind of a meditative mindset. Learn to say yes. Seeking a challenge for practice, well, the problem is the perception; something easy, something hard, something that makes better; we are better without the perception.

 

[kiwipete]

Regarding the psychological strength.

I have not been through any special tests, just the run of the mill army tests, so take this with a grain of salt. Still, I suppose the psychological stress due to circumstances is highly individual so I wouldn't look too much into any one individual and his way of coping, no matter how much it looks like he has gone through. We all have our own cross to bear, so to say.

But I would recommend a practice of meditation, which would, in time, turn into a some kind of a meditative mindset. Learn to say yes. Seeking a challenge for practice, well, the problem is the perception; something easy, something hard, something that makes better; we are better without the perception.

There gold is in meditation... I am still very much a novice and have a life-time of progress to go!

 

[mikhael]

@kiwipete
Good goals you wrote in the signature.

 

[mikhael]

I can dedicate 3 days in a week to perform strength session, so I'm wondering which 5x5 routine to follow?

 

[pet']

Hello,

@mikhael
Do you mean what move to pick ?

I would go for the basics that cover everything: DL, Sq, Press.

If a complex is manageable, C&P. It gives great results with kb, so it can be even better with heavier load using a barbell

Kind regards,

Pet'