Well done fella. Lovely weather there eh?

What bag he won?

Hi Gritty, first congrats on that achievement. I commented on your training video for this event, unaware you had already done it. In that video, you describe the Fan Dance as 'one of last things done on selection' and, 'a real gut-check'. Actually, the Fan Dance is done at the end of week one of four weeks of DAILY mountain marches, in the FIRST phase of the 6 month long selection program! It is intermediate in regard to all the marches completed in terms of weight, distance and time. But its quite early placement at the end of the first week means in terms of wear and tear on your body, it's more favourable than most of the rest of the marches! I don't think you have sufficient understanding of exactly what UKSF (United Kingdom Special Forces) selection actually involves, and how arduous it is. I've added a note to show when the Fan Dance is done, note the proper context of the whole selection program!; Here's a breakdown of UKSF (22 SAS and SBS selection)... PHASE ONE 1. Aptitude; Navigation & Endurance (commonly referred to as Hills Phase) 4 weeks of DAILY mountain marches navigating by map from point to point against an unspecified time limit. Typical schedule as follows (remember, these marches are EVERY DAY)... Week 1 15-20 km 40lbs weight+weapon, water etc. Fan Dance at the end of week 1 Week 2 18-24 km 45lbs weight+weapon, water etc. Week 3 20-32 km 50lbs weight+weapon, water etc. Week 4, Test Week; consists of 5 marches over 7 days march 1, 2 & 3; 30 km 60lbs weight+weapon, water etc. march 4; 35 km 60lbs weight+weapon, water etc. THEN, 4 hours rest and start the final march; Long Drag; 65 km 70lbs weight+weapon, water etc. 20-24 hour time limit (weather dependent). --------------- PHASE TWO 2. Jungle warfare, tactics, navigation ALL LIVE FIRE TRAINING. 6 weeks. Those who have passed phase one have to then pass jungle training. Training takes place in Belize or Brunei, deep in jungles. Candidates learn the basics of surviving and patrolling in the harsh conditions. UKSF jungle patrols have to live for weeks behind enemy lines, in 4 man patrols, living on rations. This includes yet more days of marches point to point. Jungle training weeds out those who can't handle the discipline required to keep themselves and their kit in good condition whilst on long range patrols in difficult conditions. Again, there is a mental component being tested, not just a physical. Special Forces teams need men who can work under relentless pressure, in horrendous environments for weeks on end, without a lifeline back to home base. ---------------- PHASE THREE Continuation; Foreign and new weapons skills, CQB training and testing in the world-renowned SAS Killing House where live ammo is used. Advanced infantry and marksmanship skills etc. Escape & Evasion & Tactical Questioning/Resistance to Interrogation The small number of candidates who have made it through endurance and jungle training now enter the final phase of selection. The likelihood of a special operation going wrong behind enemy lines is quite high, given the risks involved. UKSF want soldiers who have the wherewithal and spirit required to escape and evade capture and resist interrogation. For the escape and evasion (E&E) portion of the course, the candidates are given brief instructions on appropriate techniques. This may include talks from former POWs or special forces soldiers who have been in E&E situations in the real world. Next, the candidates are let loose in the countryside, wearing World War 2 vintage coats with instructions to make their way to a series of waypoints without being captured by the hunter force of other soldiers. This portion lasts for 3-5 days after which, captured or not, all candidates report for TQ. Tactical Questioning (TQ) tests the prospective UKSF men's ability to resist interrogation. They are treated roughly by their interrogators, often made to stand in 'stress positions' for hours at a time, while disorientating white noise is blasted at them. When their turn for questioning comes, they must only answer with the so-called 'big 4' (name, rank, serial number and date of birth). All other questions must be answered with 'I'm sorry but I cannot answer that question.' Failure to do so results in failing the course. The questioners will use all sorts of tricks to try and get a reaction from the candidates. They may act friendly and try to get their subjects chatting; or they stand inches away from their subjects and scream unfavourable remarks about the sexual habits of their mothers. Female interrogators may laugh at the size of their subject's manhood. Of course, a real interrogation would be a lot more harsh and the subject would not know that they get to leave alive when it's all over. That said, days of interrogations and enduring the stress positions and white noise break down a man's sense of time and reality. UKSF are looking for men who can withstand such treatment long enough so that the effects of revealing any operational information they might have can be lessoned by HQ. ------------------------------------------------------------ This is 6 months in, successful candidates for the SAS are now badged and report to Hereford, the home of 22 SAS. The SBS candidates still have a further selection/continuation phase to complete before being badged and report Royal Marines Poole, the home of the SBS. Completion of this 6 month selection course is NOT the end. They then start SF training (which never ends) and for the 1st year in particular are on probation; they can be sent back to their original unit at any time.

It's a pity you didn't have more time here to do Snowdon. There's a challenge in North Wales that is freaking insane called the Welsh 3000s in which you bag every peak in Wales over 3000ft in a single day. No I haven't tried it because one of the peaks is Crib Goch... it's a terrifying knife edge that has claimed more than a few brave souls.

Yep,,but we don't go in foot path's,,,ever 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I completed this on Selection back in 97, carrying an SLR too. I failed the 4th March on test week. I was completely fucked. 2 weeks on Elan Valley sapped all of my energy.

Good effort man you tried 👍

​@@robertozubeReally? I thought that the SLR had been completely fazed out by then. Could be wrong...

@@samuelgarrod8327 Old obsolete weapons were carried in case blokes got lost - an officer died when I did it , he was off route , we carried old Enfield . 303 when I did it , on the Elan valley phase , I saw one bloke lose it and beat the shit out the tussock grass with his weapon , so , current operational weapons were not carried , don't know what they do today . But yeah 97 would be SA80 . The Royal Marines just lost one in training .

So you joined the army at what 17 or 18 completed your basic training passed out then posted to your regiment (assuming you’re army) then few months to a year later at the age of 19 you went on selection…..really? Lol😂

cant see it can you 😂@@kmac8854

@@kmac8854 You could join at 16 back then.

i call bullshit

@@kmac8854you only have had to have 2 years service back then to go on selection(dunno how it is now) and if you joined at 16 it’s not a unbelievable feat. He never said he passed 🙄

Best of luck mate. I'm ex forces and i also have done this amongst other endurance 'days out' on various god forsaken patches of land!

All the best to you, Sir! Stay strong.

@greghardman5064 - You're an absolute warrior mate, keep swinging that sword!

Did you do it in the end buddy? I wish you well 👍👍

All the best Greg as an ex soldier my thoughts are with you

Just fit squaddies with better kit.

@@KeithChegwin24 They're more skilled, it's not just fitness.

@@Pilkie101 No they're not and yes it is.

@@KeithChegwin24so wrong. that’s why they don’t just take the fittest candidates and end selection there, it’s a 6 month process all to do with mental fitness as well as physical fitness

@@HDavies02 It's a fitness selection, hence endurance is phase 1 and carries on into the jungle. Even E&E is fitness orientated...Don't make it too obvious that you have never served and don't know anyone in Hereford.

Thank you. I grew up in a place called Halfway and went to school in Trecastle. My father served as a WW2 fighter pilot and worked at Sennybridge refuelling helicopters on the camp.

hay im a local, i climb the mountain all the time and always take the dogs up if i hear someones lost, is there anyway to volunteer for the rescue team or no, i mean at this point iv gone up and retrieved a few lost stragglers in the dark on my own and although yes i know the mountain like the back of my hand i think id be better helping a team

It most certainly isn't.its an increment test at the end of week one

​@@grahamarnhem8659affirm.

It’s at the beginning of the hills phase. On mine in 1994 it was on day 2.

What are you on about? It's absolutely not the last event and is probably one of the easier days. You sure you're not a Walter Mitty? 😉

No you didn't

How did it go?

I did!

Thanks! 👊

what a great post, men doing mens stuff and supporting each other. proper inspiring :)

That’s excellent work, it’s brutal, and a bloody brilliant time at the tender age of 62.

Right on. Best documentation of this event that I've seen on KZfaq.

Hi from Spain, I love your channel. Thanks for your videos.

RLTW! 🤘

@@GrittySoldier Congrats again GS--especially gotta hand it to you for hitting your goal (and selection) time when you had virtually no hills to train on (let alone a freaking mountain 🙂 Who's that monster who finished in 3:15!!! Guy's a machine! I also loved seeing all those old guys out there--I'm in my (early) 60s but I'm inspired to want to try the Fan Dance too! AATW RLTW!