The 22 SAS Does One Simple Thing Different In War

Former Air Force CCT and 24th STS member Mike Lamonica speaks with David Hookstead about working with the SAS and what makes them different.

You can follow David Hookstead at the following:
Instagram: @david_hookstead
Twitter: @dhookstead

[markhutton]

I once asked a retired SAS solider if he had worked with US special forces and he said yes... he had worked with Delta and Seals and I asked what the difference was.
He looked at me dead in the eye and held up the mug of tea I had given him and said, "the Delta boys took three weeks to make this level of brew. The Seals are so up themselves they will never try to make you a brew"

[markdavids]

It’s called a Chinese parliament & every member of the SAS squad has a say and good ideas are good ideas be it from an officer or a trooper.

[JMMJ]

I love the respect and admiration our forces have for each other 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇸

[johnmorganjr]

The GROM operators were another level all together as well. 🌴 'fearsome' is a good adjective. 🌴

[darkmatter]

“The pen is mightier than the sword” - so the saying goes. And that’s what makes the SAS special. They combine nerdy levels of study, analysis and rehearsals before going in kicking down doors.

[hennies]

South African Special Forces works the same way. There will be a Recce first, brainstorm, and then decide which equipment to take, then practice the raid and then go in. There will be 3 or 4 pick-up points in case of escape and evation.

[themog]

I like this guy, very humble for an american ;)

[SuperTyrannical]

Of course GROM are good. They are modelled after and trained by Britsih SAS. They have a very similar origin story to Delta force. They came to the UK and partook in some training.

[bremnersghost]

What makes the British SF different, Is that most of them have already served several years in their Parent Battalions so are generally NCOs and are the best of their Parent Unit but are bored stupid with normal Garrison duties so go for Selection.

[Whoami]

I work with a dude who used to be in the Army, he is now a head chef in my kitchen. Once asked him if he ever worked with the SAS. He told me he cant tell me most of it but did mention a story he COULD tell.

Apprently in the dead of night, everyone was asleep in the base, it was quiet, there was no wind, there was no noise, not even insects. In the morning, the entire base woke up and found itself covered in little stickers. Each one said 'Bang! you're dead!' al over the walls, their cutlery, their sleeping bags, even in the officers tent, stickers everywhere, boots, food, rations, beds, walls, doors, ceilings, windows, weapons, clothes, they had opened up bags andput stickers inside their bags then resealed them. One lad even woke up with about 8 stickers covering his face.

It didn't take long for them to realse what happened. The SAS had been around.

[justingreen]

SAS are the most famous secret organisation in the world for a reason!

[trava]

I learned deliberate entry came from the Brit’s. Good way to be in a tactical environment.
America was all about being loud, moving fast, aggression. It did work, but using deliberate entry (imo) can result in less reckless actions and lower casualty to kill ratios.

[jackdXB]

I as a British citizen, born and bred would to extend my grateful thanks to your complement to our SAS, and offer my gratitude to you for Your services too, Semper Fi brother, ✊️🇺🇸🙂

[danw]

British mate, us English are only a part of it.

[garthwick]

The difference with the SAS is the unparalleled experience that this unit carries in it's decision making and planning. They have done some f ups for sure, but their f up to win ratio speaks for itself and is due to their accumulated experience that is passed down from trooper to trooper etc.

[axzrlx]

As a English man it’s British people not English we got the welsh Scottish and Irish all submerged together that makes us the best soldiers in the world

[chrisash]

Thank you for your service sir from the uk

[rickybuhl]

Everyone says they'll never use their mathematics (I'm Danish, keep me out of the math Vs maths thing) outside school - nah ok but on the simpler end of it, knowing how to break down and show your working out can be priceless. It can mean the guy next to you is there next time. Or it can mean he doesn't have to visit your loved ones with cap in hand.

[kenpaine]

The book, "SAS, Operation Oman" by Tony Jeapes, gives an interesting insight into the SAS. Long time ago now, but a good read, tells of Dhofar War in Sultanate of Oman.

[NJTRAF]

British SF have always done it that way, the “Chinese Parliament”, and they want everyone’s opinion who is on the operation to come up with a plan and to contribute. It’s not “the boss says this is how we do it” because he’s not on the operation, he’s not the one in danger, so it’s the ones who are gonna be in harms way who know their capabilities that plan everything out and will almost always have the backing of the people in charge.

It’s the smartest way of doing things. Like he said here about doing an operation in broad daylight with little to no sleep being more dangerous than getting 4/5/6 hours sleep, going later when it’s a little darker etc. making more sense. If it came from the top they’d just say “do it” with no thought for the safety and operational capacity of the boots on the ground