PARAS OR ROYAL MARINES ???

2selfconscious

hi , any advice on either ?
sent off my application forms to both the the royal navy and the british army , really interested in both units but cant make up my mind which id fit in better in ... from looking into both the stereotype that comes out of either is that the paras are very physical and are well a bit mental really ?
and the RM are very intelligent and highly trained

the paras are the smaller unit (bout 2000 i think) yet its the RM (9000 i think) who bang on about that they are a brotherhood .. thought it would be the other way around ?

is their certain personality traits or skills that would make you more suitable for either?
if ye were torn between the two which would ye go for and why ?
any info or advice on either much appreciated
thanks

OS119

if i were looking at an infantry career i'd go RM - they have lots of little specialisms (from the Commando's, through the Assault sqn, MAWC, SBS, Brigade Air Sqn, Logistics Group etc..), lots of little jobs around the world (embassies, training teams, fleet protection, anti-piracy), and lots of wierd and wonderful trades you can learn within 3 Cdo Bde while still remaining a Royal Marine. however, if you go PARA you'll be an infantry soldier your whole career, you'll stay with the Battalion, and you may find yourself at the age of 40 writing to prospective employers saying 'dear sir, i can use a mortar'...

personally, i rate RM above PARA - and i'm Army - i think that the very varied nature of their career/establishment produces a more rounded, less 'nail - hammer', more creative and enquiring soldier who has had a more varied, more interesting career than a soldier who does 22 years as a PARA in 16AA Bde.

my view, open to challenge, but thats my view.

swordofislam

Go to America and join the Seals.
They are the best of the best.
If you want to be the best of the best be a Seal!

Fratton Fred

When I was a kid, the Royal Marines was always seen as almost a glamorous job. Mainly due to the fact they taught you how to ski and only the wealthy could go skiing.

swordofislam

Fratton Fred wrote: »

When I was a kid, the Royal Marines was always seen as almost a glamorous job. Mainly due to the fact they taught you how to ski and only the wealthy could go skiing.

Prince Andrew did it that's why it was glamorous. But the seals are the best of the best!

krissovo

Do you like the cold?
Does the idea of being towed for miles behind a BV on skis turn you on?
Do you like snow holes?
Can you swim very well?
Do you fancy skiing into a frozen lake?
I can handle sea sickness?
Do you like to live near the sea?
Do you like hot areas like Turkey in the summer?
Do you love playing on the beach?
Can you run on shingle?
Do you want other opportunities apart from infantry?


Now count your Y/N answers. Mostly Y's then join the Marines, Mostly N's then do next Q&A:

Do you like heights?
Do you love heights enough to jump a 6ft gap at 80ft?
I really want to jump out of airplanes?
Can you run through wet mud?
Do you want to join a group of jumped up alpha males?
Do you like to wear desert boots, tight jeans and have close cropped hair?
Do you want to be infantry all your career?

If you have mostly Y's then join Para's, if the last 3 are N then join a Corp's and do either the All arms Para course or commando course and be both:D

krissovo

swordofislam wrote: »

If you want to be the best of the best be a Seal!

You watch too many Hollywood movies;)

Fratton Fred

swordofislam wrote: »

Prince Andrew did it that's why it was glamorous. But the seals are the best of the best!

Edward joined the marines, before deciding it was too hard and joined the theatre instead. Edward was not glamorous, nor was I a kid when he joined.

The seals were only the best when Chuck Norris and Steven Segal were in.

Fratton Fred

krissovo wrote: »

Do you like to wear desert boots, tight jeans and have close cropped hair?

Brilliant!

swordofislam

wish we had the Royal Marines in Ireland it sounds fcuking brilliant!

Maybe_Memories

swordofislam wrote: »

Go to America and join the Seals.
They are the best of the best.
If you want to be the best of the best be a Seal!

If things like in "Executive Decision" actually happened then I'd agree. :pac:

OS119

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Brilliant!

you must also always wear a maroon t-shirt - preferably a Pln/Coy/Bn t-shirt - and a North Face Nuptse duvet jacket, and go on about 'hats all the time.

and get shirty when people talk about gay sex and mortars...

of course, if want to be a Royal Marine, you need to be able to dress convincingly as a woman, and have the confidence to attend naked social events like BBQ's, roll-matt fights, and Coy bars.

krissovo

OS119 wrote: »

you must also always wear a maroon t-shirt - preferably a Pln/Coy/Bn t-shirt - and a North Face Nuptse duvet jacket, and go on about 'hats all the time.

and get shirty when people talk about gay sex and mortars...

of course, if want to be a Royal Marine, you need to be able to dress convincingly as a woman, and have the confidence to attend naked social events like BBQ's, roll-matt fights, and Coy bars.

Back in the day the Para's would wear their green snugpak fleese, at least they have upgraded to North Face.

LOL, just had a horrible flashback to a "official" 59 Commando function I was invited to. Dress code was boots, stable belt and a arctic sock for your cash. Mid november weather was harsh on the old micky.

Double lol, just had a flash back to a 9 Para piss up which was a "snow" party. Anything remotely white and granular would be tossed in the corridor, we had flour, sugar, feathers from pillows, road salt and foot powder. It then turned to a yellow snow party where we all wrote our names on the ground. What followed next was gross, how do I describe it........Piss sliding? Kind of like a kids water slide but with piss as the friction reducing medium and the salt which rubbed your skin off:(

Lemming

OS119 wrote: »

and get shirty when people talk about gay sex and mortars...

For everyone else not aware of either the reference or the existence of ARRSE;

ARRSEpedia wrote:

3 Para Mortar Platoon

Unit Motto: Take us in the rear and we'll give you a good spanking.

Rumours of strange goings on in 3 Para Mortars date back to the 1980s when a member was found to be supplementing his meagre military salary by working as a 'rent boy'. Oh how the rest of the army laughed! Oh how The Parachute Regiment clapped their hands to their heads and wished the ground would swallow them up!

Since those halcyon days, the boys from mortars have become synonymous with all things gay. It's all good fun-poking of course, but it is the perfect example of one singular event having extremely long mileage.

However it may not all be in the past. With the Parachute Regiment deployment to Afghanistan it was only a matter of time till their deviancy made the papers. After a heated firefight, a member of the mortars' platoon said: "The Taliban took us from the rear and we gave them a good spanking." Nice to see the unit motto quoted in the press.

Article here. Please take note of the repeated references to the 'enemy's backyard' ... not that we're inferring anything you understand!

unclejunior

i typed 'the paras' in the search engine and this came up



:pac:

2selfconscious

hey hey 14 replies and only one (OS119) and a half (krissovo) of any use ,
was a serious post lads so please dont go all uncle albert "during the war .. " on me with stories of piss ups lol
anytime i google the two the majority says RM .. bit surprised why people want to stay away from the paras tbh always thought they were the elite of the brits ? outside the S.A.S/S.B.S
saying that im startin to lean towards the paras coz tbh i havent brains to burn like some RM seem too and these days everyone wants to be a RM lol and was never really too bolloxed tabbing or during our own training

Lemming

2selfconscious wrote: »

saying that im startin to lean towards the paras coz tbh i havent brains to burn like some RM seem too and these days everyone wants to be a RM lol and was never really too bolloxed tabbing or during our own training

On a serious note from my early 'contribution', if you don't like tabbing you might be in for a bit of a shock regarding the Paras, no?

Anyway, here's a video regarding P Coy ('Test week') where prospective candidates earn the right to undergo parachute training. The video is just under an hour long so make sure you have time! Just in case you think to yourself "jeez some of that looks easy" some of the tests over the week are pass/fail results.

Just get past the 'A' team intro to get to the actual video content.

2selfconscious

sorry i ment i was never really bolloxed tabbing meaning i didnt mind it at all or the beastings .. singar trainings another matter though :-p lol

nice 1 for the link

swordofislam

Seriously it has to be the seals! They are the best of the best

cruasder777

2selfconscious wrote: »

sorry i ment i was never really bolloxed tabbing meaning i didnt mind it at all or the beastings .. singar trainings another matter though :-p lol

nice 1 for the link

You will mind tabbing when you try it lol, especially the first few goes. After running the first couple of miles with 35lbs on your back, it will feel heavier and heavier, you will struggle for air, but if you keep practicing you get better and better.

Its essential to practice it before attempting Para training.

Its physically the most difficult thing I have done, apart from mixed martial arts training and Ive done alot of distance hiking and a few marathons.

I still do the Paras 10 most yrs, but Im in my 40s and 14 stone so dont hit the 1.50 bench mark anymore. I finished last time in 2hours 06 minutes, I trained for 8 weeks 3/4 times a week for it, from a high fitness base.

I would rate P company just as challenging as the commando tests.

The 8 hours Royal Marines get to do their 30 miler compares to the 4.5 hours the Paras get to do their 20 miler over mountinous terrain.



In terms of what the Paras do, they also have varied roles inc mountain and air troop units in the Pathfinders platoon.


3/4 of the last British VCs won have been won by Paras inc in Afghanistan.

krissovo

2selfconscious wrote: »

hey hey 14 replies and only one (OS119) and a half (krissovo) of any use ,

Mine was a serious response wrote in a simplified form, even when I swung the old lamp a little and told a story. Basically each unit are very similar in capability, they are both very fit units, well trained and exercised units. The main difference between the two is their unit culture (or lack of it in some cases).

The Marines have their fair share of lack of intelligence but they appear more intelligent as they have more trades on offer. The trades in the parachute regiment are limited as these are performed by other para trained units like the logistics, mechanics etc. The Marines do have their Army support, again Engineers (59 Commando) and Artillery (29 Commando) but most of the remaining trades are done in house.

Fiatach

swordofislam wrote: »

wish we had the Royal Marines in Ireland it sounds fcuking brilliant!

Here is a video of Royal Marines in Ireland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCkLrSzCTU

twinytwo

Fiatach wrote: »

Here is a video of Royal Marines in Ireland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCkLrSzCTU

if your trying to be funny .... your not.

Also thats not what he ment.

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

You will mind tabbing when you try it lol, especially the first few goes. After running the first couple of miles with 35lbs on your back, it will feel heavier and heavier, you will struggle for air, but if you keep practicing you get better and better.

Its essential to practice it before attempting Para training.

Its physically the most difficult thing I have done, apart from mixed martial arts training and Ive done alot of distance hiking and a few marathons.

I still do the Paras 10 most yrs, but Im in my 40s and 14 stone so dont hit the 1.50 bench mark anymore. I finished last time in 2hours 06 minutes, I trained for 8 weeks 3/4 times a week for it, from a high fitness base.

I would rate P company just as challenging as the commando tests.

The 8 hours Royal Marines get to do their 30 miler compares to the 4.5 hours the Paras get to do their 20 miler over mountinous terrain.



In terms of what the Paras do, they also have varied roles inc mountain and air troop units in the Pathfinders platoon.


3/4 of the last British VCs won have been won by Paras inc in Afghanistan.

Ya im sure dartmoor is a walk in the park....

What has vc's got to do with anything?...

The paratrooper has become obsolete... plus they seem to have a fancy for shooting children in the back.

BigDuffman

I've never been out fighting wars so can't really comment on that aspect of it. But both of them have world wide reputations for being amongst the best and can be considered the yard stick of professional soldier. The fitness levels and mentalities of both are astounding also when you look at the % of Paras and Cdos that go SF it will speak for the training.

But I have found the para's to live up to their loutish and overly aggressive reputation..a reputation which they are more than happy to live up to. No doubt they are hardy fookers. But they seem to want to prove it at every opportunity. You will also get stick for being a paddy more than you might encounter in other units.

The Cdos on the other hand appeared quietly confident and seemed like a decent bunch of lads. Not as much loutish bravado. The hint is also in the name...they're feckin commandos. Examples of bravery and lunacy (eg. tying yourself under the wing of an apache to go rescue a downed comrade!).

So for what its worth my 2c is go commando.

Also how undoubtedly bad a$$ are their recruitment videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f8mG4KvqMw

RMD

cruasder777 wrote: »

In terms of what the Paras do, they also have varied roles inc mountain and air troop units in the Pathfinders platoon.

Which if I'm not mistaken is in essence essentially the same as the RM Brigade Reconnaissance Troop / AW Cadre.

cruasder777

twinytwo wrote: »

Ya im sure dartmoor is a walk in the park....

What has vc's got to do with anything?...

The paratrooper has become obsolete... plus they seem to have a fancy for shooting children in the back.

How is the Paratrooper obsolete ?

28.12.2010 - Paras have jumped into action in Afghanistan in recent months. Parachutists from 1 Para (SFSG), the core component of the Special Forces Support Group, have parachuted into Helmand Province on Company-level raids against Taliban forces. The Paras use low-level parachutes to jump from from low-flying RAF C-130s.

cruasder777

BigDuffman wrote: »

I've never been out fighting wars so can't really comment on that aspect of it. But both of them have world wide reputations for being amongst the best and can be considered the yard stick of professional soldier. The fitness levels and mentalities of both are astounding also when you look at the % of Paras and Cdos that go SF it will speak for the training.

But I have found the para's to live up to their loutish and overly aggressive reputation..a reputation which they are more than happy to live up to. No doubt they are hardy fookers. But they seem to want to prove it at every opportunity. You will also get stick for being a paddy more than you might encounter in other units.

The Cdos on the other hand appeared quietly confident and seemed like a decent bunch of lads. Not as much loutish bravado. The hint is also in the name...they're feckin commandos. Examples of bravery and lunacy (eg. tying yourself under the wing of an apache to go rescue a downed comrade!).

So for what its worth my 2c is go commando.

Also how undoubtedly bad a$$ are their recruitment videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f8mG4KvqMw

"You will also get stick for being a paddy more than you might encounter in other units."


...................What is that based upon ?

Two famous ex Paras born in the republic are Paddy Doyle(ex SAS, holds the most endurance records in the Guinness book of records) and Tom Mclean, who along with Chey Blyth was the first man to row the Atlantic..

2 Paras commander Lt Col Joe O'Sullivan is from the republic.

The Paras have always had less racism then other units, due to respect being based around ability, but you have to be seriously dedicated to earn that respect, unlike other regiments they dont suffer fools.

In the 70s they even had black NCOs, before other regiments even had black squaddies.

The regiments in the British army I would avoid would be the Black Watch, which is a loyalist regiment and the Blues and Royals, Grenedier gds, Coldstream gds, Scots gds, they are regiments you would get serious stick for being Irish in, hence why recruiters direct you to Irish regiments or the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders battalion(RRS), who are historically a Scots Catholic regiment.

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

How is the Paratrooper obsolete ?

28.12.2010 - Paras have jumped into action in Afghanistan in recent months. Parachutists from 1 Para (SFSG), the core component of the Special Forces Support Group, have parachuted into Helmand Province on Company-level raids against Taliban forces. The Paras use low-level parachutes to jump from from low-flying RAF C-130s.

Seriously??

The traditional role of the paratrooper has become obselete... it became so with the invention of the helicopter.

The whole idea of the paratrooper was to drop into enemy territory and hold key objectives until the arrival of the main forces.

cruasder777

twinytwo wrote: »

Seriously??

The traditional role of the paratrooper has become obselete... it became so with the invention of the helicopter.

The whole idea of the paratrooper was to drop into enemy territory and hold key objectives until the arrival of the main forces.

Less used, not osolete, US forces in Iraq Afghanistan have done battalion sized drops.

Saying that, when was the largest large scale marine beach landing ?

Donny5

cruasder777 wrote: »

Less used, not osolete, US forces in Iraq Afghanistan have done battalion sized drops.

Saying that, when was the largest large scale marine beach landing ?

Al-Faw in 2003, and before that, probably the Falklands.

cruasder777

Donny5 wrote: »

Al-Faw in 2003, and before that, probably the Falklands.

Al-Faw was also an air assault from the sea.

US gunships and fighter-bombers attacked the known enemy positions on the peninsula in a short bombardment prior to the operation. In a classic airborne night assault, the 40 Commando and US marines landed by helicopter, encounterinAt the same time, air and sea landings secured the gas and oil platforms out at sea. SEAL Teams 8 and 10 captured the Mina Al Bakr Oil Terminal and Polish GROM commandos captured the Khor Al-Amaya Oil Terminal. 32 Iraqi prisoners were also captured. Explosive Ordnance Disposal were then landed on the platforms to search for and remove explosive booby traps and demolition charges.

A second assault by 42 Commando followed at 2225 hours. The second assault was preceded by artillery and naval bombardment, the artillery fire came from three British and one US artillery batteries positioned on Bubiyan Island, the naval component from HMS Richmond, HMS Marlborough, HMS Chatham and HMAS Anzac. The Marines were preceded by USMC AH-1 Cobra helicopters gunships and flown in by USMC helicopters to land just north of the town of Al Faw, destroying enemy artillery which could threaten the oil infrastructure and 40 Commando's flank.

The insertion began badly with appalling visibility, worsened by fires and sand. The Headquarters of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force crashed in a US CH-46 Sea Knight as the assault formation turned over the Brigade assembly area, killing the seven Royal Marines and four US marine Corps aviators aboard. The cloud base dropped even further and the insertion was aborted. A new insertion was planned, using RAF Chinook and Puma helicopters for dawn. The landings finally took place, six hours late and onto insecure landing zones, all the objectives were taken and secured.

g light resistance. They captured their three strategic objectives without loss and capturing over 200 prisoners.

C81

hi,

go for the Royal Marines.. Paras are too involved with atrocities in Ireland. Although a tough, proud unit you may find the marines to be bit more acceptable back home. If it doesnt bother you about it. Go for what you want to do.

Lemming

C81 wrote: »

hi,

go for the Royal Marines.. Paras are too involved with atrocities in Ireland. Although a tough, proud unit you may find the marines to be bit more acceptable back home. If it doesnt bother you about it. Go for what you want to do.

To be perfectly honest, if someone 'back home' is so inclined to say something to your face, it'll be because you wear a British uniform as a general concept; unit distinctions wouldn't account for much. Anyone likely to consider bodily harm is even less likely to care which unit or what branch/discipline/trade; you could be a chef for all they care and all they want is an excuse for a fight anyway.

IrelandDylan

In the RM, after your 32 weeks of RT, you will most likely be sent off to do some specialization for two years first. You could be stuck being a Chef for two years before you get on to your GD. In the PARAs, you could be sent to the Special Forces Support Group two years after completing basic training. Main thing that turned me off RM.

2selfconscious

Thanks for all the helpful posts

@ irelandDylan you in the paras bud ? or going for them yourself ? ...

IrelandDylan

Not yet, in transition year now and hoping to join the IDF, PARAS or R IRISH after the L.C.

Lemming

IrelandDylan wrote: »

the IDF

You mean the PDF right?

(unless of course you actually do intend on travelling to Israel in which case my bad )

IrelandDylan

Yep ha, sorry.

discus

krissovo wrote: »

Do you like the cold?
Does the idea of being towed for miles behind a BV on skis turn you on?
Do you like snow holes?
Can you swim very well?
Do you fancy skiing into a frozen lake?
I can handle sea sickness?
Do you like to live near the sea?
Do you like hot areas like Turkey in the summer?
Do you love playing on the beach?
Can you run on shingle?
Do you want other opportunities apart from infantry?

If you have mostly Y's then join Para's, if the last 3 are N then join a Corp's and do either the All arms Para course or commando course and be both:D

Great post man! I'm on the AACC in the new year - I hear its all beaches and cocktails... :cool::pac:

cruasder777

This may be of intrest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2q7Z735UUc&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA1jXG1IVRU&feature=related

cruasder777

IrelandDylan wrote: »

In the RM, after your 32 weeks of RT, you will most likely be sent off to do some specialization for two years first. You could be stuck being a Chef for two years before you get on to your GD. In the PARAs, you could be sent to the Special Forces Support Group two years after completing basic training. Main thing that turned me off RM.

Or if you are good enough Pathfinder selection. The Parachute Regiments special forces unit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvile3oxAjM&feature=related

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

Or if you are good enough Pathfinder selection. The Parachute Regiments special forces unit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvile3oxAjM&feature=related

please god do not tell me your just referred to the pathfinders as special forces.....

RoyalMarine

how did i miss this thread...

cruasder777

twinytwo wrote: »

please god do not tell me your just referred to the pathfinders as special forces.....

They are green role special forces trained in HALO/HAHO, long range/ISTAR patrolling, SOP training, demolition, driving/mobility skills, language skills, patrol skills,SOF communications, combat medicine, survival,Fwd air controller skills etc.


"Pathfinders may be inserted up to a week ahead of the main force, usually in 4-man teams. The men of the pathfinder platoon are skilled in covert insertion, concealment and intelligence gathering."

They do phase 1 SAS Brecon selection, and learn alot of the same skills the SAS are taught, they then do a stint in jungle warfare training.

Their training and selection and experience is beyond that of most countries special forces in a green role. There training is like that of 22 SAS air troop, although they also have a mountain troop within the Pathfinders.

discus

twinytwo wrote: »

please god do not tell me your just referred to the pathfinders as special forces.....

Everyone wants to be SF these days! I also love how crusader retorted with an obviously ctrl c+v job from an unnamed source!

cruasder777

discus wrote: »

Everyone wants to be SF these days! I also love how crusader retorted with an obviously ctrl c+v job from an unnamed source!

The Pathfinders role is one of green role special forces......and they have seen alot of combat in that role.

The MOD would never officially recognise them as that as it would mean a higher pay scale.

They have been around in 5 Ab bde since WW2.

http://www.specwarnet.net/europe/pathfinders.html


Any male in the British Army can apply for the Pathfinders, however the core is taken from units in 5 Airborne Brigade. Selection is currently 5 weeks long. It is held in Okehampton and in the Brecon Beacons qualified, many will also continue on to become HAHO qualified. The soldiers are then split up into two platoons: Air and Mountain platoons. Their they will be posted to one of the five 4-man platoons, the building block of the Pathfinders. The main difference between the two unit is the Air Platoon troops are all trained in both HALO and HAHO, while the Mountain Platoon is only trained in HALO and specializes in arctic warfare. The 4-man teams will work together in all aspects of training. The patrols are expected to be proficient in the use of their basic weapons as well as heavy weapons. They are taught about demolitions and sabotage ( such as how to blow rail way lines and bridges ). The Pathfinders also become proficient in mobility operations and ambushes. They are taught about survival and E&E. Last but certainly not least they are expected to keep up to speed on insertion methods. Each soldier is to serve 3 years, but officers only serve two years before going back to their parent unit ( usually to help spread their new knowledge ). After 3 years soldiers can decide to stay on for another 3 years if they wish.

Some Pathfinders don't stay on again. They try something new; SAS Selection . This is now always the case, but increasing numbers of Paras are joining the SAS. In 1981 the first Pathfinder left to join the SAS ( Steve Devereux, author of Terminal Velocity ). After him 8 more left within 18 months of his leaving. All passed SAS Selection.


The Pathfinders have special ties with many foreign units. They have worked with the Jordanian Special Forces. They also maintain close ties to US Army Rangers and the Pathfinders ( or LRS ) of the 82nd Airborne. Another close tie is with the GCP ( formerly CRAP; yes that is its real name ) of the 2nd REP, French Foreign Legion.

Lemming

cruasder777 wrote: »

They do phase 1 SAS Brecon selection

Hadn't realised that they [Pathfinders] actually followed the same selection process as the SAS? I'd only ever heard their selection process referred to as 'Test week on speed', but hadn't heard much in the way of the specifics.

With apologies to the OP for the off-topic nature of this post.

cruasder777

Lemming wrote: »

Hadn't realised that they [Pathfinders] actually followed the same selection process as the SAS? I'd only ever heard their selection process referred to as 'Test week on speed', but hadn't heard much in the way of the specifics.

With apologies to the OP for the off-topic nature of this post.

They do Brecon phase 1 for selection which is 1 month, test week is 1 at the end, but its sometimes done on Dartmoor, same tabs, inc solo the 40 miler,battle skills, etc the SAS do for selection. They also then do the same continuation training.... mobility training, demolition, CQB skills etc.

They dont do the 6 week jungle phase the SAS do.


The Royal Marines equivilent is the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (Brigade Patrol Troop). The do the same selection and training inc HALO para training , not sure if they do HAHO parachuting though like the Pathfinders, which is pretty dangerous, last time it was used in theatre an SAS trooper was killed.

Nowadays they teach stacking to keep the troop together.

"HAHO - High Altitude High Opening - In which the parachutists deploy their chutes at high altitude. Using steerable chutes, HAHO jumpers can glide a long distance. The advantage of HAHO is that it allows deeper penetration of enemy territory that may otherwise be too dangerous to risk a plane over. The downside is that it requires the jumpers to work on oxygen for longer, with all the inherent risks. There is also the likelihood that the troop would get separated on the descent. To test the HAHO concept, a group of SAS parachutists once glided across the English Channel, successfully traversing the 30 miles between England and France. "



"There's speculation that there are classified agreements between British Airways and the SAS that would allow the use of BA planes in certain circumstances to deliver men via HALO or HAHO jumps. The thinking is that a British Airways plane, probably a cargo type without passengers, may be used to deliver a covert team, perhaps faking an emergency that takes it into restricted airspace. The SAS team would stealthily deploy out from the cargo hold. Once out, the 'civilian' jet would then miraculously solve its emergency and resume course."

twinytwo

cruasder777 wrote: »

They are green role special forces trained in HALO/HAHO, long range/ISTAR patrolling, SOP training, demolition, driving/mobility skills, language skills, patrol skills,SOF communications, combat medicine, survival,Fwd air controller skills etc.


"Pathfinders may be inserted up to a week ahead of the main force, usually in 4-man teams. The men of the pathfinder platoon are skilled in covert insertion, concealment and intelligence gathering."

They do phase 1 SAS Brecon selection, and learn alot of the same skills the SAS are taught, they then do a stint in jungle warfare training.

Their training and selection and experience is beyond that of most countries special forces in a green role. There training is like that of 22 SAS air troop, although they also have a mountain troop within the Pathfinders.

Lol at you my friend... the pathfinders are a specalist recon unit.... dont get me wrong they are there to do a specific task and they are excellent at what they do.

But ......they are not special forces in any form of the word.

Man some of the people on here live in fantasy land.

Just because you quote some garbage off the internet.... dosent make it correct.

curiousrecruit

just got my application pack in the post for the royal marines, have been training for a month now for pmsc, cant bloody wait. Good luck to anyone joining