SAS: Who Dares Wins S5: Interview with Jerrome #18
Category: Press Pack ArticleAge: 29
Profession: Personal Trainer
Hometown: North London
Background
As a teenager, Jerrome got involved with petty crime through sheer boredom and peer pressure. He ended up going to prison for possession of a firearm. Looking back on that time, he is disgusted with himself for living that lifestyle and living up to the stereotype of a young black man.
The moment the cuffs were on Jerrome, he realised he needed to turn his life around. He stopped smoking and drinking, cut off all the friends he had before, and used his time in prison to get all the qualifications he needed to get a job afterwards. He has learnt patience from his experience and since leaving prison, Jerrome has lived an honest life, building a successful career as a Personal Trainer.
Tell me about your experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins?
SAS: Who Dares Wins has to be the worst and best experience of my life. I’ve been known to be a man who loves and conquers all challenges, but in all honesty this one caught me off guard in all aspects.
Did you find it difficult? Was it more difficult than you expected?
In all honesty, the tasks and the beastings weren’t difficult, it was the living conditions that took a toll on my mental strength as certain things kept reminding me of my life when I was in prison - the food rations, being told what to do, living in restricted conditions.
Were you surprised to find out this course was taking place in the home of the SAS – Scotland?
Yes!!!!!! I had never ever been to Scotland and always used to see on weather reports as a child and young teen and vowed never to go there because it’s always raining and always windy, so when it was announced, my instant reaction was “you got to be kidding me.”
Have you ever done anything like this before?
Never!
What training did you do in preparation for this course?
I’m a body builder, so I wasn’t really a fan of cardio and when finding out this is one of the major things in the course, I began to do boxing drills because i believe boxers have the best cardio strength. I couldn’t swim, so I learnt to do that in a week because I was told this was going to be very much the main source of activity. I also did uphill treadmill runs and constant 2000m rower challenges, trying to beat my time everyday
Now that you have this experience, would you like to join the real Special Forces?
No thank you, I’m OK!!!!!
What was the best part of the series for you?
So many personalities in there, so everyone gave me some laughs. In terms of activities, I think jumping out the plane. That was insane. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe i would do something that epic to say the least. Also the unexpected beasting has to be up there as well. 2, 3, 4 in the morning, getting shouted out of bed to go and put a barrel over your head was funny as hell
What was the hardest part of the series for you?
Rations of food, not enough sleep, the unexpected, not knowing what was happening next and the task with the boxing.
What were Ant, Foxy, Ollie, Billy and Jay like?
Ant, I had a love hate relationship with. I hated the stare downs. I loved his passion and what he stood for as much as he has to break you…I believe he always wanted you to find new levels and new things about yourself. When Ant came into the room, you felt his presence. You knew it was ‘go time’ and I respected that. I always thought anyone who shouted this much was a big softy and probably needs a hug but jokes aside, Ant is a force to be reckoned with and he helped me realise things about myself and help me achieved things within myself.
Foxy was the one I probably was most wary of because he was the more silent one.
My memory of Ollie was when we first arrived and he said from the jump “shut the f*ck up, you ain’t earned the right to laugh.”
Billy probably saw my potential so he use to give me more praise than the rest of the DS ever did!
Would you ever do it again?
A million percent. SAS is home!