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Subject: Non Brits in the SAS?
DragonReborn    6/28/2007 12:07:49 PM
I was reading some of the threads about the Ghurkhas in the British Army and the fact that because of the high selection criteria the British Army can be more selective than any unit in the world even the SAS and it got me thinking. I am sure I've read stories before of some Fijians (another ethnic group heavily recruited into British Army because of the strong warrior creed) being in the SAS but never examples of Ghurkhas being moved up into the SAS? Can anyone confirm the history of Fijians in the SAS and whether Ghurkhas have been allowed in? Does anyone else know of other examples of non-Brits who have fought in the SAS (Delta / SASR aside)?
 
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DragonReborn       6/28/2007 12:13:34 PM
I've found this so far;
 
h*tp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/11/wirq211.xml
 
h*tp://maorinews.com/karere/fiji/tumai.htm
 
 
 
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Horsesoldier       6/28/2007 7:39:11 PM
My understanding is that occasional foreign nationals serving in the British Army have made it into the SAS along the way, in addition to foreign military personnel serving on exchanges and such.   I don't have any specific examples to demonstrate the point, though.
 
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mough       6/29/2007 3:33:01 AM
South Africans, Rhodesians/Zimbabweans, New Zealanders, Australians, Irish, Fijians, Ghurkas have all served in UKSF, now it's more difficult as citizenship is required, plus the numbers of New Zealanders and Australians who came over has declined because of increased operational tempo of their SAS units...in the past many of them came on secondment and then transferred permenently....more action as it were.
 
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GOP       6/29/2007 5:04:15 AM
Why would guys from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa join the SAS? They have their own very capable Tier 1 forces, and that sort of takes the patriotism/sense of duty for your country equation out of it. The only thing like that I would ever consider was the FFL if all of my goals fall through.
 
Sort of a side question, but mough mentioned Irish fighting in the SAS. Isn't that sort of looked down upon, given the history of the two? Does Ireland have an
 
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longrifle       6/29/2007 7:46:25 AM
"My understanding is that occasional foreign nationals serving in the British Army have made it into the SAS along the way, in addition to foreign military personnel serving on exchanges and such.   I don't have any specific examples to demonstrate the point, though." - Horsesoldier

Horsesoldier,

Were not Dick Meadows and Charlie Beckwith considered "badged?"
 
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mough       6/29/2007 4:02:51 PM

Why would guys from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa join the SAS? They have their own very capable Tier 1 forces, and that sort of takes the patriotism/sense of duty for your country equation out of it. The only thing like that I would ever consider was the FFL if all of my goals fall through.

 

Sort of a side question, but mough mentioned Irish fighting in the SAS. Isn't that sort of looked down upon, given the history of the two? Does Ireland have an

They would go to the UK because of greater opertunity, back in the 80's NZ and Australia's SAS were not doing much operational wise, training training training, some guys don't want to do that their entire career, the South Africans alot of them had dual citizen ship, better career chances, as I said thats changed now NZ and Oz's SAS have been working overtime since 9/11

Irish in the SAS, long tradition, one of the SAS's greatest was a guy called Paddy Mayne, read up on him, he was a real life Rambo, former head of Manchester united security was a Southern Irishman who served in the SAS ect ect, looked down upon?, by some, but it's a personal choice

Does Ireland have a what kid?
 
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GOP       6/29/2007 7:12:17 PM




Why would guys from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa join the SAS? They have their own very capable Tier 1 forces, and that sort of takes the patriotism/sense of duty for your country equation out of it. The only thing like that I would ever consider was the FFL if all of my goals fall through.



 



Sort of a side question, but mough mentioned Irish fighting in the SAS. Isn't that sort of looked down upon, given the history of the two? Does Ireland have an



They would go to the UK because of greater opertunity, back in the 80's NZ and Australia's SAS were not doing much operational wise, training training training, some guys don't want to do that their entire career, the South Africans alot of them had dual citizen ship, better career chances, as I said thats changed now NZ and Oz's SAS have been working overtime since 9/11

Irish in the SAS, long tradition, one of the SAS's greatest was a guy called Paddy Mayne, read up on him, he was a real life Rambo, former head of Manchester united security was a Southern Irishman who served in the SAS ect ect, looked down upon?, by some, but it's a personal choice

Does Ireland have a what kid?


I can understand the Aussies and NZ'ers doing that in a sense, even though I wouldn't do it. I think it is only natural for guys who work so hard on their job that they want to do it for real, but I don't know how I would feel if I was working toward goals in another SOF unit that did not align with what was best for my country (ie: I was a NZer and I was doing ops that in some way negatively effected my nation).
I'll definitely read up on Paddy Mayne, but we all know that Marcinko would have beat his ass in person . I was just saying with the Irish/British fued, that many Irish would look down upon an Irishmen joining the SAS and fighting for their unfriendly neighbor. Sort of like an American joining French SOF a few years ago (at the height of our countries disagreements).
 
My question was whether or not Ireland has it's own Tier 1 force or not?
 
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mough       6/29/2007 7:26:37 PM

I can understand the Aussies and NZ'ers doing that in a sense, even though I wouldn't do it. I think it is only natural for guys who work so hard on their job that they want to do it for real, but I don't know how I would feel if I was working toward goals in another SOF unit that did not align with what was best for my country (ie: I was a NZer and I was doing ops that in some way negatively effected my nation).
You have to think of it more of the way, that all the SAS unit's Brits, Oz ect are/were almost as one, you could transfer between them almost at will, it's just that most transferred to the British SAS, you find alot of commonwealth military personell in militaries of other commonwealth nations, lot's of ex British soldiers for instance on completion of their time in the the UK head to Australia, theres a Canadian serving in the NZ navy right now ect
 
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mough       6/29/2007 7:35:06 PM
I'll definitely read up on Paddy Mayne, but we all know that Marcinko would have beat his ass in person . I was just saying with the Irish/British fued, that many Irish would look down upon an Irishmen joining the SAS and fighting for their unfriendly neighbor. Sort of like an American joining French SOF a few years ago (at the height of our countries disagreements).
 
While Marcinko was a legend in his own head, Paddy Mayne was a legend to the men he served with.....little story about him, he and his men were attacking a German airfield, destroying aircraft with specially made charges, Paddy finding out that he had no charges left decided on another course of action, he took the canopy off of a fighter that was left and ripped the cockpit out with his bare hands, thats the way he was, although he was known for a ferocious temper, he was out of action almost a big a threat to his own drink and temper can be a bad mix, he beame kind of melencolic out of action, he didn't like down time...his men still loved him though, theres a large statue dedicated to him in his home town in Northern Ireland, he died in a car crash a while after the war, he couldn't get used to civilian life, he was the type that thrives on combat, without it their lost.

About the Irish/British thing. mostly in the past now, everyones moved on, the 2 countries talk to each other now more like equals then enemies




My question was whether or not Ireland has it's own Tier 1 force or not?

 
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mough       6/29/2007 7:36:57 PM
Does Ireland have a SOF unit?.....yes they do, very good one in fact called the ARW, look them up on wikipedia theres a decent page on them.

if you have any question, and I can answear feel free to ask.
 
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