Interview with Recruit 15 - Alan

6 May 2021

Name: Alan 

Recruit: 15

Age: 37

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Hometown: Bristol

 

Background

In February 2020, Alan faced the most challenging year of his life.  During a routine eye test, a tumour was discovered behind one eye.  It was growing and he was told that if it wasn’t removed, the cancer could spread to his liver. Alan’s right eye was removed but due to Covid related delays, he was unable to receive an eye transplant before joining the SAS: Who Dares Wins course.  Despite this, he was determined to take part this, choosing to remain upbeat and optimistic, rather than give up.

 

Tell me about your experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins?

My experience on  SAS: Who Dares Wins was and has been the most incredible journey I have personally had the pleasure to be a part of.  The course really does break you down to your core and exposes (in a positive way) more about yourself as a person. 

For me personally it was the best thing I could have possibly done for myself.

 

Did you find it difficult? Was it more difficult than you expected?

100%.  It was difficult in that you never knew what was coming next , where you were going, or even the things you would be challenged against as a team and even yourself.

It was an environment where even the simplest of things seemed to be the most difficult but a respected one at that.

 

Have you ever done anything like this before?

I have not even come close to having done anything like this before, so as you can imagine, I really didn’t know what was to come.  Even though I had watched previous series, I still wasn’t quite prepared for what was waiting for us.

 

What made you sign up?

I wanted to sign up because of a situation that happened to me in 2020 when I lost my right eye to cancer.  I wanted to show how even though I lost my eye, I would never class myself as disabled and I could and still do the same things other people can do.

 

What training did you do in preparation for this course?

As I had not long undergone surgery on my eye, my training was limited for a while but as time went on and my eye was healing, I started to run, circuit train and also weight lift in my own gym to help me at least prepare for whatever was about to come my way.

 

Now that you have this experience, would you like to join the real Special Forces?

I have nothing but respect for the special forces but it really does take a special kind of someone to do that job, so no.

 

What was the best part of the series for you?

The best part of the series for me was meeting the rest of the recruits, who were all in their own right amazingly great individuals and a pleasure to be around.  Being part of this group, I think I just soaked up and enjoyed the whole experience.  It was hard but all great for me to be fair.

 

What was the hardest part of the series for you?

The hardest part for me personally was to just keep going and never doubt myself too much whilst being on the course and also not to second guess things too much neither.

 

What is your biggest fear and has this experience helped you get over that fear?

My biggest fear was the backwards dive into open water, which I was genuinely scared of because I do not know what is beneath the water.  However, with help from the DS, I controlled my feelings, and committed to the backwards dive. The sheer adrenaline of actually completing that task was simply the best part for me and I’m now able to get into open water with my children when we visit the beach.

 

You had to share all your space with women for the whole time you were there, including sleeping and toilets. How did you find that?

This was not a problem in the slightest to be honest.  The last thing you are worried about is what gender you are sharing the toilet or sleeping facilities with.

 

Would you ever do it again?

100%, without any doubt in my mind, if I got asked to go again, I would be there in a shot.

 

What do you think you’ve learnt about yourself?

For me personally, I learnt that its normal to ask for help, to realise you are not always the strong person that everyone thinks you are and more importantly, its normal to show weakness and shed a tear.

 

Has being on the series changed your life in anyway?

Without question the series (course) has changed me hugely as a person, in the most fantastic way possible.  I am more open with my feelings.  I guess, bringing the vulnerable side of myself to light can also make you the strongest in situations that you’re presented with.  More importantly for me, nothing is ever out of my grasp in life.  If there is some I really want to achieve, I will go for it no matter what the results are.