PROFILElast verified 2026-10-2022 Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS)
Entry requirements and the path to selection
22 SAS is the regular regiment of the British Army’s Special Air Service, part of UK Special Forces. The Ministry of Defence publishes no recruiting page and no selection standards for the regular SAS or SBS. What the Army does publish is the reserve route through 21 and 23 SAS (Reserve): a six-day Briefing Course shared by the regular and reserve pathways, a three-week Aptitude phase of timed marches and a five-week course that all UK Special Forces selection pathways pass through. This page lists those official facts and points you to the closest calculators.
This unit does not publish fitness standards for its selection. This page lists only what official sources say.
What is officially known
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Briefing Course | 6 days, shared by the regular and reserve pathways — after passing, the candidate chooses which to attempt official · Sources |
| Briefing Course events | 12.8 km Assurance March, UKSF Swim Test, 2 km aerobic activity, strength and conditioning assessment — no thresholds published official · Sources |
| Aptitude phase | 3 weeks in a row: progressive marches against the clock, ending with an endurance march over arduous terrain official · Sources |
| Common course for all UKSF pathways | SOPT-2, 5 weeks (surveillance and reconnaissance, signals, survival and evasion) official · Sources |
| Age — reserve route | Apply up to 47 years 6 months official · Sources |
| Regular SAS recruiting page | None — army.mod.uk and jobs.army.mod.uk list only the reserve SAS approximate · Sources |
Path into the unit
- Regular route: serve in the British armed forces first; the Ministry of Defence does not publish how to apply.
- Reserve route: join the Army Reserve, complete basic and trade training, then apply to 21 or 23 SAS (Reserve).
- Both routes: Briefing Course, Aptitude phase, then SOPT-2 and continuation training.
Test yourself against the nearest official standard
These units publish their standards — the closest public benchmark for this path.
What we do not give, and why
Times for the Fan Dance, the endurance march or the swim test are widely quoted online, but none comes from the Ministry of Defence. We describe the events and leave out the numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the reserve route a real way into the SAS?
Yes, for 21 and 23 SAS (Reserve). The Army says the six-day Briefing Course is shared with the regular pathway, and that after passing it the candidate chooses which pathway to attempt.
Which fitness standard can I check myself against?
The SAS Reserve page uses the Army Reserve’s published fitness standard required before the course, and the Parachute Regiment page uses the Army’s published entry test for paratroopers. Neither is the SAS selection itself.
Where do the facts come from?
From the British Army’s pages on 21 and 23 SAS (Reserve) and the SAS Reserve role on the Army Jobs site, read in October 2026.
- British Army — 21 and 23 Special Air Service (SAS) (2026-10-18)
- British Army Jobs — SAS Reserve (2026-10-18)
1st SFOD-D (Delta Force)