Special Forces%2C National Army Museum

The National Army Museum in London will open its first major exhibition since reopening in March 2017, with a focus on the Special Forces.

Special Forces: In the Shadows, set to open on 17th March, will present ideas of security and secrecy through the lens of Special Forces, exploring what these elite regiments are, the training and skills required and examples from operations around the world over the past 70 years.

The exhibition is currently expected to run until 18th November.

Learn about the forces

Founded during World War Two, today the Special Forces is made up of five units, the Special Air Service (SAS), Special Boat Service (SBS), Special Forces Support Group (SFSG), Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment. Each has a unique role in security and military operations for the United Kingdom.

The exhibition will look at the work of these units through seven distinct areas: UK Special Forces, Making the Cut, Training and Skills, Operations, Popular Culture, Why the Secrecy? and Your Reaction.

A wide range of objects will be brought together for the first time, from a compass wrenched from an enemy plane cockpit, to a complete SAS Counter Terrorist Kit from 2007. Also included will be personal testimonies, video and photography.

Interactives will help visitors understand the challenges and competencies required of soldiers, including Kims (a game which develops a person's capacity to observe and remember details) training to test observation and analysis skills, and life or death decision making.

Special Forces will also look at how these units are portrayed in popular culture from films and posters to the media. Plus, it will help visitors understand the challenges and competencies required by the units and ask them to consider how they might feel in these situations.

Visit with a group

Group bookings are available for parties of ten or more people, and can be made by e-mailing info@nam.ac.uk.

For further information visit www.nam.ac.uk.