James Bonds military background

DanielCraig007

What exactly is James bonds military background in the books and the films?
All I know is he was in the Royal Navy and has the rank of Commander.
In the films Connery, Moore and Brosnan can be seen with Royal Navy uniforms.

In CR Vesper implies Bond was in the S.A.S before joining Mi6 but this can just be her guessing or trying to judge his character? She says "former S.A.S types with expensive watches"
Is Craigs Bond a former Royal Navy officer with the rank of Commander?

Thunderpussy

Brosnan's uniform has the SAS Badge on it ( so an ex-military mate tells me ) . I don't know anything about the other ribbons etc.

Donald Grant

Ian Fleming's James Bond was R.N.V.R. or Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve or the "wavy navy" because of wavy blue or gold cuff rank stripes worn on the cuffs of the service dress blues. Fleming was also R.N.V.R. The Bond of the movies is regular Navy, R.N. (Royal Navy) due to the "straight" gold cuff stripes and epaulets.

According to the back story of Bond on the official CR and QOS websites, Daniel Craig's Bond is former SBS. SBS used to be a very small elite unit of the Royal Marine Commandos. SBS operates in the same manner as U.S. Navy SEAL's. Today, as I understand it, all branches of the military in the U.K. can apply for selection in the SBS. Today SAS and SBS are trained essentially together. Once selected, a prospective SBS operative first goes through SAS trainng and then goes on to SBS training. SAS has a higher profile in the U.K. However the SBS is smaller and much more elite. The SAS are often credited for SBS operations in the press.

As for Brosnan's parahute wings, SAS and SBS wings were very similar. Although I'm not certain, today they may share the same wings.

DG

thesecretagent

You don't get to be in the SAS from the Navy. Army (and TA) and RAF (usually RAF Regiment) only. Likewise the SBS - navy and Royal Marines only. If you are a Royal Marine and you absolutely need to be in the SAS then you have to quit, join an army regiment (if they'll take ex-navy, that is) and request selection. You won't get a request considered for at least a year either, and usually only after a promotion.

I don't see Craig's Bond as a Navy officer either. He looks, acts and seems like a Royal Marine nco, or SBS.

Donald Grant

thesecretagent wrote:

You don't get to be in the SAS from the Navy. Army (and TA) and RAF (usually RAF Regiment) only. Likewise the SBS - navy and Royal Marines only. If you are a Royal Marine and you absolutely need to be in the SAS then you have to quit, join an army regiment (if they'll take ex-navy, that is) and request selection. You won't get a request considered for at least a year either, and usually only after a promotion.

I don't see Craig's Bond as a Navy officer either. He looks, acts and seems like a Royal Marine nco, or SBS.

I'm sorry but You're wrong. Standards for selection changed in January 1994. Because I'm fascinated by elite forces, the quiet professionals, and the pursuit of mental toughness, Ive done a lot of reading on the subject matter. I've actually read two books on the subject of the SBS. The first was "First Into Action" by Duncan Falconer and the second was "SBS The Inside Story of the Special Boat Sevice" The Epilogue of the Parker book on page 395 of the paperback version actually talks about selection. However if you doubt this, plenty of places on line refer to how selection has been made since 1994. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

"Volunteers for the SBS are now taken from all the British Armed Forces although volunteers still predominantly come from the Royal Marines. Candidates wishing to serve with SBS must have completed two years regular service and will only be accepted into the SBS after completion of the selection process.[38]"

And

"Until recently, the SBS had its own independent selection program in order to qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist but has now been integrated its selection program into a joint UKSF selection alongside candidates for the SAS. All members of the United Kingdom armed forces can be considered for special forces selection,[nb 2] but historically the majority of candidates have an airborne forces background.[40]"

You can view the full Wikipedia link here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Boat_Service

Look under "Recruitment Selection and Training".

How SBS selection is made also exists other places on the net, or you can consult the books I've mentioned.

DG

thesecretagent

I don't know who could possibly know more - you with your two books experience, or me with twelve years in the British Army, service combat zones such as Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Northern Ireland...
I lasted just over four weeks in selection for the SAS but was returned to unit for active service in Operation Desert Storm. All I can say about my above post was what I was informed of at the time. Susequent injuries, convelescence, postings and detachments never allowed me the opportunity back to resume what I had started. I can't say I wear the T-shirt, but for a month I tried it on for size...
At the time, there was an ex-Royal Marine DS who told me of his route through to the SAS. That is all I was going on. Thing's obviously change, but I don't read that sort of thing, nor take a real interest in it any more.

Donald Grant

thesecretagent wrote:

I don't know who could possibly know more - you with your two books experience, or me with twelve years in the British Army, service combat zones such as Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Northern Ireland...
I lasted just over four weeks in selection for the SAS but was returned to unit for active service in Operation Desert Storm. All I can say about my above post was what I was informed of at the time. Susequent injuries, convelescence, postings and detachments never allowed me the opportunity back to resume what I had started. I can't say I wear the T-shirt, but for a month I tried it on for size...
At the time, there was an ex-Royal Marine DS who told me of his route through to the SAS. That is all I was going on. Thing's obviously change, but I don't read that sort of thing, nor take a real interest in it any more.

I'm no expert, and certainly two books does not make me one. I was just pointing out that I did not make up what I wrote and that I could back it up with sources.

Thanks for your service.

I too served but as a civilian mariner. I carried Army unit equipment on USNS Fast Sealift Ships during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operaton Restore Hope/Continue Hope both before and after the "Blackhawk Down" incident. I was also awarded the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal for Desert Shield/Desert Storm by the Maritime Adminstraton.

DG

CmdrAtticus

The films have played loose around Bond's military rank and history - usually just thrown in as story padding to tie him into the military scenes in the films (which is why they show him wearing a uniform- something the Bond in the novels would never do, because though he was in the Reserve, he would never be required to wear it as he was officially a Service agent). These scenes were just for cinematic "eye candy" - to make him look official. From what little can be gleaned from Fleming's original intent, Bond was supposed to have been recruited into the Reserve as Fleming had been and probably did diplomatic spying during the war, but after it was over he voluneered to go into the Secret Service because he knew he would get to travel and have "adventures" outside of the tedious desk work at headquarters. While he was being trained by the same instructors who had trained the wartime commandoes and SOS agents, they would have noticed his innate physical skills and tolerance for pain and realized he would be better suited as a field agent as opposed to just an operations officer. He kept his rank of Commander as he reported and worked directly under M, who had been an active admiral, and because he was still designated to be in the Reserve.