SELECTION AND TRAINING

THE TOTAL ELAPSED TIME ROUGHLY, FOR A NEW RECRUIT WITH NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE, IS EIGHT AND A HALF GRUELING MONTHS OF NONSTOP TRAINING TO PRODUCE A BASIC ENTRY LEVEL SELOUS SCOUT.

A BRIEF SNAPSHOT OF TRAINING

Selous Scouts selection course made extensive use of roped obstacles and obstacles of height to test the candidates confidence levels at heights, as well as overall strength and dexterity need to complete the rigor of further training. This information would be vital for there further training as parachutist.

Scout in selection working the ropes.

During the weapons training extensive amount of range firing was placed on "COM. BLOCK" weapon systems to include but not limited to the RPK, AK-47, RPG-7 and there various variants. This emphasis was due to the later operational employment as pseudo-terrorist.

Scouts conducting weapons training with com block weapons.

Dark phase was were the Scouts learned the art of there deadly trade of pseudo tactics and operations, all of which was highly classified at the time. The training covered a vast amount of material on terrorist modes of operation, which was gleamed from turned TERRs and was constantly updated from class to class to keep information current and accurate.

A Scout during "Dark Phase". Note dress.

One of the high lights that captivated candidates was the "espite de corp" that came with being a parachutist, which prior to the Selous Scouts was only a white soldiers entitlement. the scouts broke that mould and were the first to employ blacks in the airborne role, and later the free-fall role as well.

Upon successful completion of the selection course the newly indoctrinated trooper is awarded his certificate / diploma of acceptance in to the Selous Scouts Regiment. At this point the Trooper is far from done continuous / advanced training is continues on.

(Above) Example of Selous Scouts certificate.

7.62 FN FAL rifle.