Britain's most elite special forces to open doors to women

The gruelling tests are widely thought to be the toughest in the world (Picture: PA)

There are reports that the SAS is planning to modify its gruelling entry tests to increase women’s chances of being able to join.


UK’s most elite special forces unit may be considering permitting female applicants to carry lighter rucksacks during marches as part of what is considered the toughest selection process in the world.

Soldiers hoping to enter the legendary unit are expected to pass uniquely difficult challenges – some of which are so intense that candidates have been known to die trying to complete them. Considering that women will soon be able to apply for all military roles, they might be allowed more time to complete tests and be given lighter loads to carry. The suggestion comes after the government said it wanted to see all close combat units in the British military open to women by 2019.

There are feelings that the marching tests are unfairly discriminating against women who may have the attributes needed to succeed as SAS soldiers. One source told the Times: ‘There is a determination to get women into the special forces.



‘There will be changes to the selection of women but it is not about lowering standards — it’s about levelling the playing field. 
‘For a woman to pass special forces selection, she will have to be very focused and very fit — exactly the same as her male colleagues.’ 

However, there is understood to be concern among current members of the SAS that any changes to the recruitment process could lead to a lowering of standards across the unit. It will also reportedly apply to the SBS (Special Boat Service), the sources add.

The current selection process – which is six months long – is widely thought to be one of the toughest in the world and in recent years has had a pass rate as low as eight percent.

The changes would specifically affect the initial stages of selection – during which candidates are pushed to their limits in increasingly touch tests in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. The weight of the backpacks carried by the candidates gets increasingly heavier as the training goes on and it culminates with a 40 mile march which must be completed in 20 hours. Those who pass the test then move on to the next stage which includes jungle exercises in Belize and ‘interrogation’ exams. In 2013 three army reservists died during an SAS selection march in Wales.