Do the SAS walk funny?
August 18, 2010 3:27 AM Subscribe
Do the SAS have an identifiable way of walking across country?
In Mark Helprin's Freddy and Fredericka, Freddy is observed:
'In the distance a figure, which though hardly visible was neat and trim, moved at military pace along a barely perceptible trail on the high shoulder of a blue lake. "That will be he. You can tell by the walk. The SAS have a certain way of moving across country. Forget that I said that. You're not supposed to know'.
Is this fantasy (which would make sense in the context of the novel) by Helprin, or is there some grounding in fact? Do the army, and perhaps specifically the SAS, move across country in an identifiable way?
In Mark Helprin's Freddy and Fredericka, Freddy is observed:
'In the distance a figure, which though hardly visible was neat and trim, moved at military pace along a barely perceptible trail on the high shoulder of a blue lake. "That will be he. You can tell by the walk. The SAS have a certain way of moving across country. Forget that I said that. You're not supposed to know'.
Is this fantasy (which would make sense in the context of the novel) by Helprin, or is there some grounding in fact? Do the army, and perhaps specifically the SAS, move across country in an identifiable way?
No citation available, but I do recall a program on discovery or some similar channel saying that some soldiers will lead with a toe strike step instead of the heal strike because it gives them better control on where the foot lands.
posted by MarvinJ at 6:18 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by MarvinJ at 6:18 AM on August 18, 2010
In the extras for Black Hawk Down there's a documentary about the boot camp the actors went on with (ex) Rangers and Delta Force where they learn to look and act like special forces soldiers. I remember them being taught a special way of running/jogging that keeps the head from jostling about so it's easier to spot the enemy etc.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:09 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:09 AM on August 18, 2010
there is a certain way you walk when holding your weapon at the ready. since your gate and footsteps tend to make your frame ( and therefore your site) move round a bit, you need to walk in a different way. Kind of hard to explain. It is probably referring to that. Of course this wouldn't be done all the time-- much more likely when you have your weapon at the ready and might need to engage.
Go grab a broom handle, alignment with your eye on one and try to aim steadily at something at the opposite end of the hallway. Now, try walking at different speeds. You will quickly find out that you will need to adapt the way you walk. One possible way is almost like gliding. Hard to explain, but just go do it and you'll see.
posted by chinabound at 9:27 AM on August 18, 2010
Go grab a broom handle, alignment with your eye on one and try to aim steadily at something at the opposite end of the hallway. Now, try walking at different speeds. You will quickly find out that you will need to adapt the way you walk. One possible way is almost like gliding. Hard to explain, but just go do it and you'll see.
posted by chinabound at 9:27 AM on August 18, 2010
Chinabound I think you may be referring to this. That however is from CQB scenarios though, and not moving cross country.
posted by Biru at 10:48 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by Biru at 10:48 AM on August 18, 2010
It's subtle, if it exists. The TTP of the SAS is difficult to detect.
posted by gum at 10:54 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by gum at 10:54 AM on August 18, 2010
Biru foundwhat I was talking about for the most part. it can be used outside of CQC, whenever you feel the need to be at the ready, though obviously you don't want to maintain that posture forever. Ever see the ditches in Afghanistan with the tree line in sight? not exactly CQC, but it sure helps to be at the ready at the tight spots if you're not gonna run through for some reason. even if if you're not doing the full glide, you kind of half-it so that you're ready to shoot faster (you're not really gliding and you're not exactly just walking with your weapons hanging either). many people instinctively get just a tad bit lower. Needless to say this looks definitively more "military" than strolling down the streets with your hands in your pockets. :-)
Moving "across country" in this context doesn't really mean anything to me other than traversing a trail and if it's a tight spot on a ridge then a ready posture might be appropriate. country could mean large swath of land or simply terrain. really hard to tell what the author saw.
posted by chinabound at 11:34 AM on August 18, 2010
Moving "across country" in this context doesn't really mean anything to me other than traversing a trail and if it's a tight spot on a ridge then a ready posture might be appropriate. country could mean large swath of land or simply terrain. really hard to tell what the author saw.
posted by chinabound at 11:34 AM on August 18, 2010
I had forgotten about the CQC context, so I guess my earlier remark was CMT.
posted by gum at 12:23 PM on August 18, 2010
posted by gum at 12:23 PM on August 18, 2010
The TTP of the SAS is difficult to detect.
For those who don't know, TTP refers to Thymidine Triphosphate, one of the four nucleoside triphosphates that make up DNA. Or so Wikipedia says.
posted by Sutekh at 1:39 PM on August 19, 2010
For those who don't know, TTP refers to Thymidine Triphosphate, one of the four nucleoside triphosphates that make up DNA. Or so Wikipedia says.
posted by Sutekh at 1:39 PM on August 19, 2010
Tactics, Techniques and Procedures...
They should have said "The TTPs of the SAS are difficult to detect.", though one does not detect any of the above, you merely observe them.
posted by Biru at 9:52 AM on August 20, 2010
They should have said "The TTPs of the SAS are difficult to detect.", though one does not detect any of the above, you merely observe them.
posted by Biru at 9:52 AM on August 20, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Biru at 4:39 AM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]