I remember standing guard at a bridge in northern Germany, after being warned "look out for the SAS," by an NCO. 

The "opposition," weren't allowed to shoot you on these exercises cos your mum would complain, but they'd give you a few digs if they surprised you. Man, I spent all night like a cat on a hot tin roof, every gurgle of the water, every movement of a leaf, every noise had me hopping.  Just the idea of them making an appearance had my mind racing. 

In fact, I remember one of the tactics that the civilians in the Falklands reputedly was telling the Argies that "the SAS were going to get them." Scared them to death. 

Anyway, in my case they never showed up. Just after dawn we were put under a simulated gas attack. A battery of guns went off about a mile away, hidden with a forest on a hill - and the "observers," watching us at the bridge threw tear gas. They decided that we were too slow putting on our NBC suits and took some guys away from the unit as casualties. We were already below strength so that was painful.


Nothing compared to a night wondering if the SAS were gonna jump up and kick my/our heads in though.