Top 10 Hardest Special Forces Training In The World (2023) – Information (2023)

The toughest special forces training in the world. Special Forces refer to military units that receive special training for the purpose of carrying out special operations. According to NATO, special operations can be described as “Military activities which are conducted by specially designated, organized, trained and equipped forces manned with selected personnel, using unconventional tactics, techniques and modes of employment”. This covers essentially, the duties performed by Special Forces.

Military training is a strength-consuming exercise. It necessitates bravery, precision, and discipline. Military personnel is subjected to training activities and regimens that would almost certainly land many of us in the hospital if we tried them at home.

The hardest special forces training in the world aims to transform them into breathing weapons for the greater good of the country. which most soldiers are required to undergo.

The 20th century saw the emergence of Special Forces and during the Second World War, there was a notable increase in the growth of these Special Forces as various major armies who were part of the battle, created units that were directed to perform special tasks behind enemy lines.

The duties carried out by these Special Forces vary from nation to nation and may include operations such as airborne operations, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, Covert Ops, Foreign Internal Defense, Direct action, Hostage rescue, High-value targets/manhunting, mobility operations, intelligence operations as well as unconventional warfare.

Top 10 Hardest Special Forces Training In the World

1. People’s Liberation Army of China – Hot Potato Game Using Live Grenade

Soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army in China participate in a training exercise called “Hot Potato,” which involves playing a life-or-death game using a live grenade.

During the training, Chinese forces stationed in Hong Kong fire a live grenade to one soldier who in turn throws it to the next till the last one throws the live grenade into a hole.

Following this, the soldiers run for safety to cover their heads before the grenade goes off.

2. Russian Special Forces – Taking A Shot To The Chest

Coming second on the list of hardest special forces training in the world is taking a shot to the chest during military training in the Russian confidence-building program.

During this training, some soldiers get injured, while others only endure knocks caused by the bulletproof vest. The unusual concept behind this military practice is to train soldiers for the possibility of being shot by an enemy. Regardless of the outcome of the practice, the brave soldiers must be able to accurately and rapidly return fire.

The soldiers push others away while firing at the ground and they shoot at targets just inches away from volunteers playing innocent bystanders just to demonstrate how stress affects soldiers’ attention.

Despite the hectic environment, the soldier must be able to remain calm and do his assignment.

3. U.S. Navy SEALs (Drown proofing Training)

The Navy SEALs have some of the hardest special forces training in the world. Coldwater conditioning is another name for this type of training. As part of “drown proofing,” the troops’ arms and legs are chained.

Then the soldiers must bob up and down for twenty times. They must swim to the pool’s shallow end and turn around without touching the water’s bottom, and including this, they have to float for five minutes.

The soldiers must return to the deep end of the pool and perform forward and backward somersaults underwater, and retrieve a face mask from the pool’s bottom.

4. U.S. Marines (Drinking cobra blood)

The days of proving a soldier’s value with an assault course and a few push-ups are long gone. Drinking cobra blood and ripping the heads off chickens using their bare teeth are now standard training for US Marines. Thai naval instructors now teach the US Marines how to kill deadly cobras.

These soldiers are also encouraged to drink the blood of the animals, including deadly cobras. Something similar to this is a soldier killing a chicken by biting off its head.

5. People’s Liberation Army of China (Jumps through rings of fire)

Another training performed by the People’s Liberation Army of China’s soldiers involves jumping through rings of fire during a military drill.

While doing this, the soldier must hold an assault rifle to simulate the sensations and adrenaline rush of a genuine battle.

6. Chinese Soldiers (Breaking slabs of concrete with their heads)

The breaking of concrete slabs using bare heads is one of the hardest special forces training in the world done by the Chinese military. During this training, soldiers must break bamboo poles on their backs and shatter bricks on their heads to test their strength.

7. Belarus Red Berets (Testing balance by walking over fires)

As a member of the Belarus Red Berets, you must complete a series of tests on a challenging course. Storming a high-rise building, hand-to-hand combat, and testing balance by walking over a fire are all part of the assault course.

Extra challenges during the balance training are thrown in by the instructors to make things more difficult for the soldiers, and an example is knocking new recruits off the balance beam with vehicle tires and gunfire.

8. Taiwan Marines (Crawling along a path with jagged corals and rocks)

The Taiwan Marines also have one of the hardest special forces training in the world which they call “Road to Heaven.” In Southern Taiwan, this training is the final step of a nine-week intensive amphibious training program.

During this training, the soldiers must complete numerous workouts and crawl along a 50-meter-long walkway strewn with jagged corals and rocks.

9. Israeli Defense Forces Military training (Jumping from skyscrapers and rappelling down the side)

A bizarre military training drill in Israel involves jumping in through a window. It’s a preventive measure in case the terrorists try to kidnap people from a Tel Aviv skyscraper.

An anti-terrorist team of the Israel Defense Forces has been jumping from the top of one of Tel Aviv’s sky-touching towers and rappelling down the side. The Trainees must block out everything in their environment and must also concentrate solely on the window while waiting for the signal to move.

Following this, before the recruits can be considered for the advanced training drill, each of them must complete some serious and difficult fitness tests which involve:

  • Running 3km in 14 minutes
  • Doing 3 squats while carrying a 60kg barbell (but at least 11 is considered a good score)
  • Making suicide run inside a 15kg vest in just 14 seconds
  • Doing 60kg bench push-ups for 3 reps (with a minimum of 12 considered an average score)
  • Doing 3 pull-ups in a 15kg weighted vest

10. Russian Alpha Group Spetsnaz

As an applicant for the Russian Alpha Group Spetsnaz force, you must pass the world’s most difficult military fitness tests which include:

  • Running 3000m in 10 minutes 30 seconds
  • Running 100m in just 12.7 seconds
  • 10 x 10m suicides in under 25 seconds
  • 25 pull-ups or more
  • 90 push-ups in 2 minutes
  • 90 sit-ups in 2 minutes
  • A minimum of 30 dips with no break
  • 10 reps of bodyweight on the bench press
  • Hand-to-hand combat, 3 x 3 minute rounds against a typically larger opponent. If they act defensively or lose the fight, they fail.

Related:

  • TOP 10 LARGEST ARMIES IN THE WORLD
  • Top 10 Best Trained Armies In The World
  • TOP 10 LARGEST NAVIES IN THE WORLD

Closing

Joining a Special Forces unit is no easy task, and even individuals who consider themselves physically fit might not be able to withstand the rigorous training. However, given the types of missions, they are expected to complete, training is critical in preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead.

Joining a Special Forces unit is by no means a small feat and even those who regard themselves as physically fit often find themselves, conquered by the training involved. However, considering the kind of missions that they are required to do, the training is very important to prepare them for the possible trials ahead.

Another significant advantage of military training is that it helps in the development of confidence. Constant training has been found to aid in the improvement of military personnel’s willpower. They can see how far they’ve come since the training session and how much stronger they’ve become. It also helps the individuals in surviving in a hostile environment, such as a terrorist assault or a battleground.

All over the world are men and women who do not have the mental fortitude to join the regular army, not to talk of its more advanced units. For those people, it is interesting to know that all over the world, there are elite groups of people who are way higher than regular soldiers and have engaged in rigorous training which has made them capable of the feats they are capable of. These men and women represent the most disciplined and capable amongst us, both physically and mentally, in high-pressure situations.

These men and women are put through training exercises and the most difficult special force training programs in the world that would probably land many of us in the hospital on the first day and it works towards fashioning them into loving, breathing, dependable organic weapons for the good of the nation.

FAQs

What is the world's hardest special forces training? ›

There's a great argument that the Marine Corps has the hardest military training of anyone, and here's why. Of course, when you reach the top, you can find them becoming SEALs or a part of the Marine Raider Regiment (MRR), but the training of any Marine is some of the hardest military training in the world.

Who is the No 1 special force in this world? ›

Overview – “Navy Seals” is one of the finest special force units in the world. This unit gained a lot of fame in the year 2011 when they killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad. Seals are trained to conduct small-unit special operation missions in maritime, jungle, urban, arctic, mountainous, and desert environments.

What is the most highly trained special forces? ›

SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the US military.

Which country has the toughest Special Forces? ›

ALPHA GROUP- RUSSIA

This force is one of the strongest and leading elite special forces groups. It was established in the 1970s and was mostly involved in the operation in Afghanistan, in which the presidential palace was stormed, and everyone in the building was killed.

What is the most elite military training? ›

Say it again: American Special Operations Forces. There's a lot that's not known about this group and that's intentional. But everyone knows that these forces are among the most elite and best trained in the world.

What branch of military is hardest? ›

1. Air Force. It is regarded as the hardest branch of the military to get into among the 5 main US military branches. It not only requires being physically fit but also mentally sharp.

What are the top 5 forces in the world? ›

In 2022, China had the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with about 2 million active soldiers. India, the United States, North Korea, and Russia rounded out the top five largest armies.

Who is the top 10 army in the world? ›

List of Top 10 Army in the World
PositionCountryScore
1United States0.0712
2Russia0.0714
3China0.0722
4India0.1025
6 more rows
3 days ago

What is the most secret military unit? ›

If they are compromised during a mission, the US government may deny all knowledge. SOG is considered the most secretive special operations force within the United States, with fewer than 100 operators. The group generally recruits personnel from special mission units within the U.S. Special Operations community.

What is the most feared regiment in the world? ›

The Royal Gurkha Rifles

The Gurkhas are a unique unit in the Army with a reputation of being amongst the finest and most feared soldiers in the world.

Which special forces sees the most combat? ›

Probably Delta Force sees the most combat. For the past nearly 20 years, everyone in the unit has seen multiple tours of duty. All members of Delta's squadrons have been expected to see combat about once a year.

Who are the toughest soldiers in the world? ›

Special operations forces are the most highly disciplined, mission-capable, and formidable units in the world. They go through rigorous selection processes and training in order to conduct unconventional warfare tasks that are beyond the means of standard military forces.

Who was the most feared army in history? ›

Though they existed more than eight centuries ago, Genghis Khan and the Mongols are still regarded as the most-feared military of all time. This is due to their reign over an incredible empire that they conquered in a short period of time.

Which boot camp is the hardest? ›

Marine boot camp is extremely challenging -- both physically and mentally -- and considered to be tougher than the basic training programs of any of the other military services.

What branch is the first to fight? ›

The Marine Corps is often first on the ground in combat situations.

What is Delta Force called now? ›

SFOD-Delta has been through a few name changes over the years, and even though it likely always will be known as SFOD-Delta, it recently was renamed the Combat Applications Group (CAG) and is now known officially as Army Compartmented Elements (ACE).

What is the most badass military branch in the US? ›

SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and Delta Force, officially known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), are the most highly trained elite forces in the US military.

What is the top 10 strongest military? ›

Top 10 Strongest Armies in the World in Detail
  • The United Kingdom. ...
  • Italy. ...
  • France. ...
  • South Korea. ...
  • India. ...
  • China. ...
  • Russia. ...
  • The United States. The US possesses a fleet of ten aircraft carriers, which is its most significant conventional military advantage.
Dec 23, 2022

What is the number 1 strongest military? ›

The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power.

What is the top 10 strongest country? ›

The Top 10 Most Powerful Countries in the World (2021 Best Countries report):
  • United States.
  • China.
  • Russia.
  • Germany.
  • United Kingdom.
  • Japan.
  • France.
  • South Korea.

Which country is No 1 in army? ›

Top 10 Armies: Highest Number of Active-Duty Military Personnel. China's massive force is the largest, followed by India and the United States.

What is the age limit for Special Forces? ›

20-36 years old. Minimum rank of E-3, and within the rank of private first class, specialist, sergeant, or staff sergeant.

How big is 10th Special Forces Group? ›

The approximate 2,000 Soldiers assigned to the 10th SFG(A) train for and conduct combat, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance and foreign internal defense missions.

What is the age limit for Green Berets? ›

To qualify for the Green Berets, you must be a man. You also must be between the ages of 20 and 30 years old.

What is the hidden army? ›

The female workforce, or the hidden army as they are called in the film, grew by 6.5 million during the war. By war's end in 1945, women comprised 36.1 percent of the civilian labor force.

What is military secret? ›

Military secrecy is the concealing of information about martial affairs that is purposely not made available to the general public and hence to any enemy, in order to gain an advantage or to not reveal a weakness, to avoid embarrassment, or to help in propaganda efforts.

What is the US secret mission? ›

Special agents focus on protecting top U.S. and visiting foreign officials and investigating financial crimes. Our Uniformed Division officers' mission is to protect facilities and venues secured for U.S. Secret Service protectees.

What regiment was all black? ›

The 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first regiment of African Americans from the North to serve during the Civil War, bravely assaulted Battery Wagner in Charleston Harbor.

Which regiment is the bravest? ›

Sikh regiment is the highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army and in 1979, the 1st battalion was the Commonwealth's most decorated battalion with 245 pre-independence and 82 post-independence gallantry awards, when it was transformed into the 4th battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

What is the oldest regiment in the US Army? ›

The 3d U.S. Infantry, traditionally known as "The Old Guard," is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the Army, serving our nation since 1784.

Which branch gets deployed the most? ›

What branch gets deployed the most? Soldiers on active duty in the Army deploy more than any other branch, with the possible exception of the Navy (although most Navy deployments are on ships at sea). How often you deploy depends on whether the U.S. is involved in any ongoing conflicts.

What's higher than Delta Force? ›

Army Special Forces is a much larger organization than Delta Force, which is a small subset of Army Special Operations Command.

Which branch gets deployed the least? ›

What branch is least likely to deploy? Next to the Coast Guard, Air Force members are among the least likely to see combat. Deployments in the Air Force are not as common as the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps, and they are generally shorter in duration.

Who has the most advanced military? ›

15 Most Advanced Countries in Military Technology
  • State of Israel. Total Military Aircraft Fleet Strength as of 2022: 597. ...
  • Hellenic Republic. Total Military Aircraft Fleet Strength as of 2022: 633. ...
  • Federative Republic of Brazil. ...
  • Taiwan. ...
  • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) ...
  • Republic of India. ...
  • Italian Republic. ...
  • Republic of Türkiye.
Dec 17, 2022

Who has the most powerful military in the world 2023? ›

In GFP 2023, the United States is ranked as the top military power in the world with a score of 0.0712 which was 0.0718 in the previous year. The second and third most powerful militaries are Russia and China with a score of 0.0714 and 0.0722 which were 0.0791 and 0.084 last year respectively.

Which is the most fearless Army? ›

The Gurkhas are soldiers from Nepal who are recruited into the British Army, and have been for the last 200 years. Gurkhas are known to be as fearless in combat as they are good natured in daily life.

Who was the most brave soldier? ›

Captain Vikram Batra, PVC (9 September 1974 – 7 July 1999) was an officer of the Indian Army, posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest and most prestigious award for valour, for his actions during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Who is the most feared warrior in the world? ›

First on our list remains the most feared warrior of all time: Alexander the Great. Born in Pella, Macedonia around 356 BCE and died on June 13,323 in Babylon, Alexander the Great is known for his amazing feats. However, historians know him more as the king of Macedonia from 336 BCE up to his death.

Is Green Beret training harder than seal? ›

While Army Green Beret training is extraordinarily demanding, the overall consensus is that Navy SEAL training is the most challenging of any elite ops group in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Is Ranger or SEAL training harder? ›

While the route to SEALs training is more direct than for the Rangers, each training is more intensive. To be considered for SEALs training, candidates must meet a series of strict physical criteria and pass several tests.

Is Delta Force higher than Green Berets? ›

Green Berets represent one of the most classified special forces in the military along with 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), or “Delta Force”.
...
Green Berets vs. Delta Force – Quick Comparison Chart.
Green BeretsDelta Force
Total Size15,000 (estimate)Classified
11 more rows
Mar 11, 2021

What knife do Green Berets use? ›

This knife is known to the U.S. Army Special Forces as "The Yarborough" and to everyone else as "The Green Beret Knife". It is a no-nonsense, hardworking tool, designed by renowned knife maker and designer Bill Harsey, with function and manufacturing input from Chris Reeve.

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