18 (UKSF) signals Regiment

18 (UKSF) Signals is part of the Royal Corps of Signals

Created in 2005, along with the SFSG & SRR, 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment is one of Britain's newest special forces units. It's remit is to provide signals support to other UKSF elements, such as the SAS and SBS.

Support provided by 18 (UKSF) Signals includes :

• providing secure communications for UKSF operations
• signals intelligence (SIGINT) : intercepting and monitoring enemy communications such as mobile phone calls and radio transmissions
• electronic intelligence (ELINT) : analysing and tracking the location of communications signals
• IT (Computer) support

The Regiment contains other pre-existing UKSF signals units such as:

• 264 (SAS) Signals Squadron,
  attached to 22 SAS
• SBS Signals Squadron
  attached to the Special Boat Service
• 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron
  A reserve unit attached to 21 and 23 SAS

Other sub-units of 18(UKSF) Signals include:

• 267 (SRR) Signals Squadron
  attached to the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)
• 268 (UKSF) Signals Squadron
  attached to the SFSG

Men of 18 (UKSF) Signals are highly trained in all aspects of communications. Since they may be expected to accompany UKSF units on operations, they are also trained in various specialised military techniques such as parachuting and escape and evasion.

18 (UKSF) Signals Selection

Selection for 18 (UKSF) Signals is open to all serving members within the UK military with the following qualifications :

• Class 2 in a Signals trade
• To have passed BFPA and All Arms CFT
• To have at least 3 years’ residual service left
• Preferably, to have served 12 months in a working unit.

A 5-day induction proceeds the main selection during which candidates get an idea of what to expect. Main selection comprises of a 24 week Special Forces Communicator (SFC) course, run in March,
April, August, and October, each year.

The Special Forces Communicator (SFC) course comprises:

• Technical Trade Assessment (1 week)
• General Support Comms (6 weeks)
• Physical Aptitude (5 weeks)
• Close Support Comms (5 weeks)
• Conduct After Capture (2 weeks)
• Military Training (3 weeks)
• SF Parachute Training (3 weeks)

18 (UKSF) Signals - Losses

Sadly, several 18 (UKSF) signallers have been lost in recent years

• January 2005 - Iraq
  An SAS Signaller (264 (SAS) signals) perished onboard a RAF Special Forces Hercules that was shot down over Iraq. The Hercules was scouting for emergency airstrips from which to extract the contingent of SAS troops it had just dropped off.
• November 17, 2005 - RAF Brize Norton
  A Captain from 264 (SAS) Signals Squadron tragically died in a parachute training accident. The subsequent inquest into the accident caused outrage when it was suggested that a lack of proper radios, a result of budget cuts, contributed to the incident.
• September 2, 2006 - Aghanistan
  RAF Nimrod spy plane (XV230) caught fire and exploded over Afghanistan, with the loss of all 14 servicemen onboard, which included 2 signallers, one attached to the Special Reconnaissance Regiment , (267 (SRR) Signals Squadron) and the other to the SFSG (268 (UKSF) Signals Squadron). The Nimrod was supporting Operation Medusa, a major NATO offensive against the Taliban, which included UK Special Forces on the ground.