Special Boat Service

The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the British Royal Navy's and Royal Marines? Special Forces unit. The service's motto is Not by Strength, By Guile. It forms part of the United Kingdom Special Forces, alongside the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR).

Selection

The SBS is not an independent unit but part of the Royal Marines. To be eligible for SBS selection, a candidate formerly must have served for at least two years in the Royal Marines or the Royal Navy, but now they can volunteer from any arm of the services. If selected they must then pass a rigorous selection course.

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Those who pass the selection course then undergo a swimmer canoeist (SC3) (= frogman) training course. During this course the candidates are still considered to be on probation. The swimmer canoeist course includes survival training in the wilds of Scotland and diving training in cold water with poor visibility. In the diving phase they swim underwater for miles in the dark and mud. The course includes beach reconnaissance, canoeing, photography, underwater demolitions, and maritime counter-terrorism training.

Related Topics:
Frogman - Scotland - Photography - Demolitions

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Both commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers serve in the SBS for three years before they return to the Royal Marines or Royal Navy. The SBS is based in Poole, Dorset.

Related Topics:
Commissioned officer - Non-commissioned officer - Poole - Dorset

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Today, a potential member of the SBS has to pass SAS selection before he can move on and attempt SBS selection. On passing SAS selection, he is technically qualified to join the SBS.

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