SAS: Are You Tough Enough?

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SAS: Are You Tough Enough was a British television documentary series produced from 2002-2004 exposing volunteer members of the public to the experience of the British Army's Special Air Service's selection process. It was presented by Dermot O'Leary.[1] In contrast to the real SAS, the programme also featured female candidates. As with real selection, initially the candidates were pushed to the limits to reduce the numbers, with survivors in the latter stages, trained and assessed in a variety of military training exercises.

The contestants participated in exercises experienced in the real selection process, although over a shorter time frame, with the winner only getting a hand-shake from the ex-SAS SSgt Eddie Stone. For realism, exercises were controlled by ex-members of the SAS, notably Staff Sergeant and John McAleese with additional comments about what would happen in the real process from other ex-SAS members.

There were three series: the original in the Scottish Highlands, the SAS Jungle in Borneo, and SAS Desert in Namibia.

Series 1 - Highlands[]

In the first series, the exercises included:

  • The Fan Dance over Ben Lomond — five eliminated
  • The (a 40 mile trek with a 55 lb bergen to be completed in 20 hours) — eight eliminated, including four for medical reasons and one for cheating
  • Escape and evasion, with a resulting interrogation test — six eliminated
  • Fitness test
  • Swimming test (fully clothed in combat gear) — two eliminated
  • Survival
  • Free fall parachuting
  • Navigation
  • Off road driving in a Land Rover Defender 110
  • Marksmanship
  • Close quarters reconnaissance of a farmhouse
  • Fieldcraft and infantry tactics in an assault
  • A booby trapped outdoor close quarters battle course, 10 targets and 30 rounds of ammunition
  • Assault of a Killing House

The 29 contestants participated in an 11-day course, sleeping in tents when not on specific overnight/survival exercises. The majority failed to complete the course, retiring in the early stages on medical grounds or due to being unwilling to continue, and in latter stages due to failing to meet the required standard. One woman, Louise Rickard, made it into the final four who completed the course, with the winner selected as Gary Robertson from Dundee.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ BBC Feature, SAS

External links[]

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