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When you’re cracking CQB and clearing rooms in a building, you need to know what the other lads are doing. 

You can’t spend time thinking when your oppo is moving.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast as the saying goes.

Stop to think and guys might die.

That’s why you drill it so much, even more so at the higher levels.

Everyone moves as one; you know what the other guys will do before they do it. The enemy on the other hand have no fucking idea what’s either going on or about to enter their world to ruin their day.

Be someone who doesn’t stop to think too much.

That doesn’t mean don’t think at all, you’re not Harvey Price. Just don’t stop and think too much.

Enter Duncan Falconer, former Royal Marine and SBS operator, author of First Into Action telling his story of his life in the Corps and SBS.

He joined the Corps at 18. The SBS at 19, and he didn’t really know what he was doing when he signed up.

He says in his book:

“I stepped off the bus in Kilburn and headed for the RAF Careers Office. I fancied myself as a fighter pilot after reading a RAF newspaper advert and discovering that I had the minimum educational requirements to join, but as I walked around the elaborate showroom nothing sparked in me and my interest dwindled. I left the building and headed down the street wondering ‘What now?’

Then I saw the Royal Marines Careers Office.

I stopped at the window to stare at the action-packed posters. I had heard the Marines were some of the toughest and most highly trained soldiers in the world – that was all I knew about them. I began to wonder if I could get through the training, whether it might do me some good and I could see the world for a few years, after which things might be a little better on the home front.

Curiosity nudged me forward and I stepped into the building to look around. The marketing frills were nowhere near as elaborate as in the RAF office. Perhaps that’s why I felt more comfortable there. A pleasant old Marine in uniform – a sergeant – approached me and began to chat with me about the job. Before long, I was sitting opposite him at his desk filling out an application form.”

That’s how you do it.

Get in there.

Like Bruce Lee says in his famous quote: “Don’t think, feeeeeeel.”