PROFILElast verified 2026-10-20Special Boat Service (SBS)
Entry requirements and the path to selection
The Special Boat Service is the maritime special forces unit of the United Kingdom and part of UK Special Forces. The Royal Navy publishes no recruiting page or selection standards for it. Official documents confirm only a recognised UK Special Forces selection pathway, and the Army describes a five-week course that all UK Special Forces pathways pass through. Most candidates come from the Royal Marines, whose entry test is published.
This unit does not publish fitness standards for its selection. This page lists only what official sources say.
What is officially known
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Selection pathway | A “recognised UKSF selection pathway” is mentioned in the 2026 pay review report, without details official · Sources |
| Common course for all UKSF pathways | SOPT-2, 5 weeks official · Sources |
| Recruiting page | None on royalnavy.mod.uk or gov.uk approximate |
Path into the unit
- Most candidates first qualify as Royal Marines commandos; the entry test is published.
- UK Special Forces selection, including SOPT-2 — its standards are not published.
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
Swim distances and dive tests attributed to SBS selection in the press are not confirmed by the Ministry of Defence, so we do not give them.
Frequently asked questions
Which test should I train for?
The Royal Marines entry fitness test and the commando course standards — the published standards on the usual path to the SBS.
- Armed Forces Pay Review Body — 55th Report 2026 (2026-10-18)
- British Army — 21 and 23 Special Air Service (SAS) (2026-10-18)
- Search of royalnavy.mod.uk, army.mod.uk and gov.uk (2026-10-18)
Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)