Episode 4 Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week

Some of you may think you know what hell looks like.

-Get up!

-GUNSHOTS

You have no idea.

This programme contains strong language.

With former soldiers of six of the world's toughest special forces,

we've created the ultimate military boot camp

to help shed light on the unique selection methods of these units.

For 12 days,

29 of Britain's fittest civilians will take this on.

There's something about competition.

Don't want to be beaten by somebody from the flat areas down south.

Special Forces is the biggest and most extreme challenge out there.

When you think Special Forces, you think superheroes, really.

Go! Go!

'I am Freddie Flintoff.

'As an elite sportsman, I know it takes grit

-'and determination to be the best.#

-That's it!

'I'll help understand their battle...'

Keep going. Use it.

'..and cheer them on every punishing step

'as our raw recruits attempt to push themselves

'beyond their physical and psychological limits.

-'Only the very best will survive.'

-Go home now!

Taking them through hell are former operatives from the US Navy Seals.

We were brought up to weed out the week.

Up! Down!

The Australian SAS.

Have you got the determination? The will to want to continue? You sure?

Let's go. Let's go.

Russia's Spetsnaz.

Oh, shit!

You're bleeding.

You are dying!

-Put your hands up!

-Israel's Yamam.

-Are you quitting?

-No.

-Can you survive it?

-Yes, sir!

NAVSOG from the Philippines.

Back to zero!

And of course, Britain's SAS.

We'll be bezzies.

Only then will the final winner emerge...

of Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week.

This is where the fun begins.

Heads up! Down!

Six days ago, 29 recruits had a brutal introduction

to the world of Special Forces.

You better put your face in the water!

48 hours of hell followed with Itay, a veteran of Israel's Yamam.

-Lift him up. Are you quitting on me?

-Hell, no.

-Are you quitting on me?

Then along came Dante of NAVSOG, the Philippines special forces,

to weed out the weak.

You're not doing your job. In the water!

18 recruits began the NAVSOG phase but five didn't make it through.

Lacey had to pull out on medical grounds.

Hellard was rejected for not pushing himself hard enough.

Go home now.

Francis failed an Ironman swim and was sent home.

Before Anderson and frontrunner Steggles

were rejected during the final parade

for getting lost on the navigation task.

Go home.

-After surviving the toughest two days yet...

-200, sir.

..13 recruits now remain.

But who will make it through the next phase?

It's day seven. The 13 remaining recruits are now halfway through.

Just like the halfway point

in a real special forces selection course,

the cumulative effects of constant physical exertion, military rations

and lack of proper sleep is starting to break down the recruits' bodies.

It's hard when we keep doing stuff on it.

It just heals a bit and then just gets worse again.

Clare Miller has enjoyed a strong competition so far...

-Make it happen!

-OK, guys, listen in.

..since impressing as leader under the Navy Seals.

On your feet!

She's continued to show ability and steely determination

but even she is starting to be worn down by the process.

It's not the nicest thing I've ever done.

After six days of hell, they are fearful of what's next.

I know it's not going to be easy, it's going to be really testing,

and we're going somewhere we've not been,

mentally and physically, I suspect.

The recruits nervously wait the next phase of the competition,

which is all about pushing beyond your limits.

But have they got enough left in them to get through

the next 48 hours with their new Special Forces instructor?

Jason Falla is a former member of the Australian SAS.

I spent six years in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment.

Prior to that, six years in Commandos.

I've been deployed to numerous war zones including Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Australian Special Air Services Regiment was formed in 1957

and is closely modelled on the British SAS.

They specialise in going long distances behind enemy lines

and are renowned for their endurance capabilities.

The general characteristics you will see in an SASR soldier

is that tenacity, that determination,

that will to want to continue regardless.

Under Jason's watch, the recruits will face excruciating

physical endurance tests,

carried out under severe food and sleep deprivation

to closely mimic one of the toughest special forces selection courses

-in the world.

-The recruits think they know their limits

and I'm going to push them past those limits.

These guys have to be physically and mentally tougher than they've been before.

OK, guys, let's get on parade now. Form up.

Five, four, three, two, one!

I'm in charge now.

Over the course of the next 48 hours,

you're going to be constantly watched and assessed

and at any time, if I don't think that you are cutting it,

that you are putting in 100%, to the right standard,

I'm just going to cut you right there and get rid of you.

After his no-nonsense introduction, Jason gets the recruits to strip

so he can complete a thorough kit check

as they will be spending the next two days away from camp.

However, recruit Martlew immediately finds herself in Jason's bad books.

Martlew.

You need to start moving with a sense of urgency. We're waiting on you.

The past six days have been tough

for the 24-year-old obstacle race champion.

She struggled during the Israeli phase.

-Do you have an injury?

-No, sir. The uniform has been aggravating my...

That's life.

And yesterday was on the verge of quitting

after blaming herself for Steggles' exit.

I don't know if I want to be here now.

The longer it takes, the longer you are exposed to the cold out here.

Being sent home by Jason isn't the only way out of the competition.

Each recruit has been issued with an item unique to the Australian phase.

-Where's Proctor?

-Their Withdrawal At Own Request form.

Read it out loud, mate.

It allows anyone who isn't tough enough an easy way out.

Withdrawal At Own Request form. I, the undersigned,

hereby withdraw from the selection course at my own request.

Youth sports coach Procter

has been one of the frontrunners in the competition so far.

During the Yamam phase, he motivated recruits in the Stretcher Carry.

Come on, in front. That's it Steggles. Excellent work.

Impressed in the Krav Maga.

And earned special praise from Itay in the final parade.

Procter was tough. You did well.

Special Forces are an elite bunch of guys.

To just be able to be on a level playing field with them

is an insane opportunity.

-Are you going to sign that today, mate?

-I ain't, no.

-You sure?

-I ain't.

-Who's going to sign that today? Are you going to sign it?

-No, sir.

-Are you sure?

-Absolutely.

-Have you got the determination?

-Yes, sir.

-The tenacity?

-Yes, sir.

-The will to want to continue? You sure?

I hope so.

I hope you've all got it.

We'll see what happens over the course.

Go ahead and get dressed.

Before the brutal challenges begin, the recruits are given what will be

their last meal until Jason tells them it's OK to eat again.

This guy looks ripped.

He's big, isn't he? I wouldn't want a fight with him.

Fuck. He looks tough as nails. Genuinely.

The first test of the day is the 5K Ruck Run.

It's a feared component of the SASR's selection course,

designed to test recruits' stamina and perseverance.

It has to be completed in under 40 minutes

while carrying a rifle and a Bergen weighing 20 kilos.

Standby.

Go!

If anyone comes in grossly over the 40 minutes,

they will get a black mark.

If a recruit pick up two black marks in any one day,

Jason will send them home.

So what are recruits going to find the hardest about this?

I think what they're going to find most challenging is the fact they

probably didn't prepare adequately to be carrying this kind of weight.

20 kilos is no joke when you're carrying it as quick as you can.

They have got to cover that ground really quickly

so they're going to be hurting.

It's the first time the recruits have had to run

with this kind of weight in a challenge

and after six days of punishment, it's beginning to hit them hard.

This is tough. This weight is really, really heavy.

This is probably the most physical discomfort I've ever had.

At the front, Brassington is making much easier work of it.

The engineering lecturer is a successful triathlete.

There's something about competition that strikes a note

with something within us. It resonates, one of our base instincts.

And he's hoping his Welsh roots will give him the edge

in the competition.

Can't have an Englishman beating me, can I, really?

After only 13 minutes, the run takes its first casualty.

24-year-old Martlew.

Do you want to wrap? Get the paper and sign it.

Martlew has signed the Withdrawal At Own Request form

because she's feeling unwell.

Unfortunately I've had to make the decision to stop here.

My body doesn't want to play the game today

so I'm going to have to throw in the towel, unfortunately.

It's not how I envisaged it ending but...

erm, good luck to all the others.

Brassington.

Brassington is first to complete the run in 31 minutes 20 seconds.

Head over here, mate.

-Bent comes in second.

-Go on up, brother. Up on top, there.

And Hunter, the oldest remaining man in the competition, comes third.

Straight up there.

Clare Miller, Doran, Murphy, Michael Miller and Gatenby

all just miss the 40 minute cut-off time and now are on Jason's radar.

However, Parrish comes in last by some margin.

He's four-and-a-half minutes late.

50-year-old Parrish is a capable endurance athlete

who has even swam the English Channel.

But so far in the competition he has drawn attention to himself

for all the wrong reasons.

-Why are you going that way? It's not helping at all.

-All right.

He performed poorly during the NAVSOG phase,

narrowly avoiding elimination.

Got my eyes on you, Parrish.

We all have strengths and weaknesses

because we can't be good at everything

and it's just making the most of what we have got, seeing what we can do with it.

All right, fellas. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,

nine, ten, 11, 12. Where's the 13th competitor?

-She dropped off back at the beginning, sir.

-Who's that?

-Martlew.

-Martlew? Martlew dropped off?

OK.

So we know who the weakest competitor is.

We know who the strongest is.

Well done, mate. Good job, Brassington.

At the other end, came in last place,

there was a big gap between your time and the first place.

Right now, we're looking at you.

You have a black mark against your name, Parrish.

You need to start picking up your game, brother.

Two black marks might see you on the bus out of here, all right?

What we've got next, everybody is to cross the river.

We'll let you know what happens when you get over the other side.

Move. Let's move.

From this point on, the recruits will be engaged

in a part of the SASR selection course called Lucky Dip.

It's a military role play that requires the recruits to offer

support to a guerrilla force fighting a fictitious war.

Once our recruits cross the river, they will enter enemy territory

and a world of pain.

It's the first time they will experience what's really required

from a special forces soldier.

Everyone, leave your rucksacks there, grab your weapons, come on in.

Right now, you're in enemy-occupied territory.

The guerrilla force has requested assistance

from the Australian government to provide troops

in support of their activities and you guys are those troops.

The recruits' first task behind enemy lines

is to use two large, heavy boxes to pick up a weapons cache

a kilometre away and then transport through the rugged terrain

of the Black Mountains to the guerrilla force.

He will expect them to remain in military formation at all times.

We're going to need a point man, a scout out front, he's going to lead.

We're going to have flank protection on the left-hand side,

on the right-hand side and rear security.

All that's going to be managed by a team leader, OK?

For each challenge, Jason will appoint a new team leader

so he can identify those recruits who thrive under pressure

and those who struggle.

Miller, you're taking over.

First into the firing line is 21-year-old Michael Miller.

With the exception of injuring Spicer in the Krav Maga,

Michael Miller has kept a low profile in the competition.

I think the phrase is, mind in neutral, arse in gear.

That's how I'll be doing it.

His grandfather was a General in the Second World War

and his brother is about to enter Sandhurst

so Miller has a lot to prove.

Come on, guys. Get up. Get your Bergens on.

Get your rifles on first.

As leader, Miller will need to motivate the recruits to keep

moving forward quickly.

OK, does everybody understand which pair they are paired up with

for carrying the things? OK, we need to get going. OK.

Going towards the next fence, OK? You understand?

I'm sensing it is going to be quite hard, this.

The weight at the moment we have got the box set at is 100 kilos.

In addition to that they have got their Bergen that weighs 20 kilos.

The fact that they have been under the pump for the last six days

and they are physically and mentally fatigued already.

And this is prime SAS territory right now.

To see who has got that determination and that perseverance

to really dig deep and get that equipment where it needs to go.

However, the 100 kilo boxes are only secured to the transport poles by rope.

And things start to fall apart very quickly.

Guys, watch it! Watch it!

Oh, no. This needs tying proper.

Stop, guys, stop. Did I say move?

20 minutes pass and Miller has only managed

to lead the recruits 15 metres.

Hey, Miller.

What's the deal, mate? You are way behind schedule.

-I understand.

-You need to get this box...

You have got a cache to uncover over here with weapon parts in it.

Make it happen, dude. Get them going.

Hey, guys. Get going. Following Miller up the hill.

He is a passive leader.

He is not really asserting his authority on to the team

and so they are not moving anywhere. It is a disgrace right now.

Box number one, come back through this way, you are making trouble for yourself and everyone else.

Miller, if you can proceed up to see there's a gap over through

-the fence.

-I don't know where we are truly heading.

Miller!

-Get over here.

-Unimpressed by Miller's lack of authority,

Jason decides to give him an ultimatum.

If you don't get those boxes to that cache site in ten minutes,

-I'm going to fucking send you home.

-OK. Understood.

Guys, let's get a real hustle on now!

Ah! Fuck, fuck!

It's all a bit of a fuck-up, really, isn't it?

-You better get this thing moving before I fucking start losing my temper, dude.

-Yes, sir.

All we have got to do is carry a couple of boxes up a hill.

Miller's ineffective leadership means the other recruits

decide to take matters into their own hands.

Keep your head down, don't lose your hat.

In order to manoeuvre the stores through the dense undergrowth, they

take them off the transport poles and progress starts to be made.

OK, let's put some muscle into this!

Right, cover fire.

The recruits finally reach the weapons cache.

They add rice bags

to the stores to simulate the extra weight of weapon parts.

-Was it one in each?

-Yes, one in each.

And get on the other one.

Before re-securing the poles ready to transport

the load to the guerrilla force.

Again through the middle.

OK, guys, just do whatever is quickest. And easiest.

But Jason has seen enough.

Everyone, stop what you are doing, move over here. Move over here.

Here's the deal, fellas. This is the last time I'm going to tell you.

You need to start taking this seriously.

-When I tell you to move, you start moving. Did you make the time?

-No.

What does that mean? It means that you failed as a leader.

-You are going home, buddy.

-Yes.

-The reality is, he is getting sacked.

Half of that responsibility rests on your shoulders.

Partly because he was not leading you correctly,

and the other half was, you were not working enough for him.

Anyone else wants to go home, just start putting in the same amount of effort. It's not good enough.

You guys were told time and time again,

to start moving fast to get these boxes moving.

-Curnyn?

-Sir?

-You're taking over.

-Sir.

-Good job. You are out, buddy.

-Thanks, sir.

I have been dropped. I'm done.

Sucks.

Guess I can have a bath now.

OK. All right, guys. Hello! All right, we need to get this done.

All right? And when I'm talking,

I won't even ask, nobody else should be talking.

That farmhouse, see it over there? That is our destination.

-That is exactly where we are going. Any questions?

-No, sir.

-No, sir.

-Rock and roll.

-OK, let's do it.

Put it between your head and your Bergen.

With Miller out, we are now down to 11 recruits

and as new leader, Curnyn is under some serious pressure.

As an endurance sports enthusiast,

Curnyn is used to putting himself under physical and mental pressure.

I would like to know where my limits are.

I would like to know, how far can I push my mind and my body.

I want to know what I can do.

During the competition, he has quietly excelled.

He was on the winning team in the Land Rover challenge

and stretcher carriage during the YAMAM phase.

Special forces is the biggest

and most extreme challenge that is out there.

You think special forces, you think Avengers.

I want to know if I can play this game.

But he has yet to prove himself as a leader.

There is a gate off over there.

There is, yeah. Right, OK, confirmed, guys.

We are going to head towards the road. Let's go.

Curnyn's leadership gets off to a flying start.

The recruits are making better progress with the boxes.

Gentleman, when we reach this box,

place it down, quick fix repairs, OK?

JASON: That buzz sort of went around,

and they realised that this was no joke. We just sent somebody home.

And that put the fear of God back through them, that they

need to start performing, otherwise they could be next.

Come on, gentlemen. Quick fix, quick fix.

For the eight recruits carrying the boxes,

the additional weight of the Bergens mean that they are effectively

struggling with just over 45 kilos each.

OK, we will be moving.

He is doing an awesome job.

He is making us do things that we're probably not physically capable of

right now. So, that is all you can ask of your leader, isn't it?

One, two, three...

On you go...

-Pull!

-Ready?

-Yeah.

It will go. It will go.

I enjoy it, I enjoy pressure.

It makes me work a bit harder and keeps me sharper. All right, magic.

Cool.

But it has been nearly eight hours since breakfast

and energy levels are beginning to plummet.

The lack of food,

combined with 100 kilo boxes is pushing people to their limits.

Are you all right, mate? There is no point getting yourself out.

Particularly the oldest recruit left.

51-year-old coal-carrying champion Hunter.

Come on, move it!

Throughout the competition,

he has excelled during the weight-carrying challenges.

I have won the coal-carrying title ten times.

World record-holder for speed marching with weights.

Pain is pleasure, Freddie. You are loving this! It's a day out!

Come on, boxer.

I'm hard as a machine, I have been doing exercises for 32 years,

competitions.

And I've yet to break down.

But this is proving too much for him.

This is the most knackered I have been.

-At me limits, now.

-Everybody else is, I certainly am.

It is a horrible, horrible task we are doing right now.

And there are many,

many people with that form to sign out in their hand.

Some tired bodies there. I think you would be worried

if people were not thinking about quitting?

Well, you want to... I mean, that is the thing about special forces.

-You never have that enter into your mind. That never...

-Is that right?

Never die, never quit attitude. You'll always complete this task.

-And you can honestly say you do that?

-Yes.

There's nothing... I will never quit anything.

I never have, never will.

Everybody get their Bergens, let's go.

The recruits still have another 1.5km to cover in order

to reach the guerrilla force.

One at the back, two at the front, all right?

Despite the fatigue, and the fact they haven't eaten

for nine and a half hours, Curnyn is managing to keep everybody moving.

-It's all right. Come on.

-GROANS

You are doing a fucking great job. Stay strong.

He has got that no-nonsense approach right now.

Because I think he knows the deal.

The last leader just got sent home

and I don't think he wants to get sent home as well.

So he's doing a pretty good job of keeping people on track.

Go down. Go down and out.

And if you slide in...

About 50 metres away.

INDISTINCT

After carrying the stores for nearly six hours,

the recruits are on the final push to reach the guerrillas.

OK, here is the deal. You guys are going to continue to walk.

-You are about to meet the guerrilla force, up the road here at the corner.

-Sir.

Don't do anything stupid. Make sure you keep them onside.

You identify who you are, make sure everything is kosher,

-keep them onside, cos they need your support, that is what you are here for.

-Yes, sir.

-All right?

-OK.

-Make it happen, mate.

The guerrillas represent the kind of force that the Australian SASR

might offer assistance to if they were fighting a shared enemy.

But behind enemy lines,

it can sometimes be hard to tell who is on which side.

The lucky dip role-play is designed to test how recruits cope

with the confusion that can arise in the theatre of war.

What are you exactly looking for them to do?

They'll get a shakedown. It is where they first meet the guerrilla force.

At that point, they'll de-conflict and de-escalate that

and then they will introduce themselves as the Australian government support

and at that point, they will provide assistance to them.

Stop! Get down!

Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down!

Get up! Get up!

I told you to get up, you scumbag! Get up!

Make your way over there. Now.

-Make your way over there. Get over there!

-MAN 2: Get on your knees.

WOMAN: Weapon to your side! MAN 2: Get on your knees, facing me.

Place your hands on your head. Place your hands on your head!

You eyeball me again, scumbag, I will bite your top lip off.

-Do you understand the detail?

-We're here to help...

-WOMAN: Get your head down.

-Shut up! Shut up!

Who do you think you are? All right, look forward.

Anybody eyeballs me, I will smack your head in.

Who is the leader?

I am, sir.

The rest of you, face on the floor.

-You sit up.

-WOMAN: Face down NOW!

What is your mission, mate? Speak to me!

Mission is to deliver...

-WOMAN: Get your hands on the back of your head!

-..weapons supplies to you, sir.

I need you to have a word. All right?

-What is your name, fella?

-Steve Curnyn, Colonel, sir.

So where have you come from?

-And what is in the container?

-Weapons supplies, sir.

What is the entire distance from your last checkpoint?

-WOMAN: That weapon should be by your side.

-Er...

-You are shit.

What are your instructions?

-To deliver these supplies.

-You are shit. Do you understand that?

-Yes, sir.

You are in the right place, more or less at the right time.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you, Colonel, sir.

By keeping his cool,

Curnyn manages to convince our guerrillas

that they are on the same side

and the recruits are given the next challenge.

-Mikey?

-Yes?

-All right, tell them to sort out the kit.

They will once again be transporting supplies for the guerrillas.

This time, however, the load is even heavier, more cumbersome

and difficult to carry.

The jerry cans weigh 20 kilos and the ammo boxes weigh 15.

There is a leadership change and Parrish is put in charge.

We need to get everything to our first rest point

which is approximately 1km away.

But being the leader has previously been a poisoned chalice for Parrish.

We need to think about this quickly, because we are just sitting in the water.

-Come on, then.

-We know that!

During the NAVSOG phase,

he performed badly as leader and was punished by Dante.

Just lie down and go back.

We have got to get all this down here.

He's already on Jason's radar for getting a black mark

in this morning's rock run.

Can he prove himself this time?

Let's start moving. Got it?

Lift!

Hunter's ability to carry heavy loads has meant that he has

landed the toughest task alongside Proctor, carrying a 100-kilo

load on a medical stretcher, more than his own body weight.

This is the last thing we needed after that... six-hour trek with them boxes.

This is an absolute nightmare.

After barely 50 metres, the recruits are already struggling.

As leader, Parrish comes up with an idea

for how to carry the heavy jerry cans in a more effective way.

We are just going to... No, no, no.

You just need to put the jerry cans on your Bergens' straps.

That is pretty much an order. That is the way we will do it.

INDISTINCT

Killing me.

-Just make sure it is balanced, mate, yeah?

-This is so fucked up.

The combined weight of the Bergens and the jerry cans

now means that the recruits are carrying 40 kilos on their backs.

This is the only way we are going to do it.

WOMAN: Get it so that it gets...

-You know, this is heavy.

-It is going to be heavy....

-Let's...

For the female recruits, this is close to two-thirds of their body weight.

I can't, I can't, I can't.

It is definitely doable.

-This is where the fun begins.

-Yes.

-Come on, Parrish, let's go.

-Let's go, mate.

Keep going. I am going to give you a ten count, keep going.

GROANING AND GASPING

Taking way too much time.

It's too heavy.

It's too fucking heavy.

It is proving too much for recruit Murphy.

As a talented footballer who has played for England,

she knows all about grit and determination.

They wanted to push you until someone quit.

And that was the mentality that I have always been brought up with.

Whoever is not on this, get over the sty

and get over that one, and let us wait...

During the competition,

she has demonstrated a fierce competitive streak.

All right, listen, listen. Listen!

But this is taking its toll.

Murphy?

Go on, no, you can go.

-Are you...?

-No, go on. It's too heavy.

Murphy, we'll carry it together. This is fucking everybody up.

No, no, leave it. I'll put it on in a minute.

Murphy, we'll carry together.

You have one hand and I'll have one.

After an hour of backbreaking work, the withdrawal at own request form

is starting to burn a hole in the recruits' pockets

and Parrish is becoming concerned about their welfare.

People who are normally really strong are starting to fall apart.

If they've had enough, you know what's in their pocket.

-Yeah. They're not going to do that, though.

-Why not?

If they're not going to do it, then they'll persevere, right?

-Yeah, they will persevere.

-Are they injured?

here's a couple that worry me.

-Are they injured?

-No, they're not injured, sir.

If they're not injured and they're not quitting, they seem all right.

'They're hurting right now.'

They've reached their limits that they know of right now.

They are starting to push through.

SHE GROANS Fucking hell...

The recruits are being pushed

way beyond anything they've experienced before.

Now is the time to show the mental toughness Jason is looking for.

Time to get the head in the game, innit?

Like many of our recruits, 30-year-old Doran

is in impressive physical condition.

But having set up his own successful life-coaching business,

it is his mental strength that he prides himself on.

I teach people how to get through difficult things,

whether in the real world or whether in the mental world.

So this is tailor-made for me.

I'm quite prepared to go as far as it takes

and do you whatever it takes to carry on.

When shit gets hard,

it's time to get a little bit harder than the shit.

HE GRUNTS

We've got about 200 metres. We're really close. OK?

HE GROANS

Come on!

Don't stop, don't stop. Five, four, three, two, one.

MAN YELLS

Well done, guys.

After taking nearly an hour and a half

to travel 1km,

Parrish finally gets everyone to their destination.

Pain, pain.

And when you think the pain is over, it starts again.

That was torture.

I think when it comes to a point,

if it's going to start physically damaging you,

you've got to reassess...or I've got to use reassess why I'm here.

It all fucked up.

Morale has hit rock-bottom

and there is no sign of an evening meal,

and the recruits still have hours of gruelling challenges ahead of them.

But Jason decides to put things into perspective.

I know you guys are feeling pretty tired

and kind of sorry for yourselves at the moment,

of what you kind of signed up for.

The Australian SAS selection course

is probably one of the most challenging courses

in all special forces around the world.

There's a lot of hardship, a lot of carrying a lot of weight over long distances,

and there is a lot of...sucking,

which typically lasts for about 21 days.

So imagine doing this for three weeks.

The reason why it's a long time like that

is so that you can never see the light at the end of the tunnel.

That messes with your mind-set, because in times of warfare,

when those kind of things happen, you will get broken down

and they need to know that you'll still be able to perform.

But it's that perseverance, that forged toughness

through extremely hard training such as this,

that gets you through it.

If you're feeling sort of sorry for yourself now,

I wouldn't feel too bad.

There is a lot harder stuff out there than what you guys have been through.

When you're talking about the world's toughest armies...

..Australia's SAS election course is going to be up there.

This is the kind of shit we do.

As night falls, the recruits continue their gruelling march

to the next checkpoint.

-How is morale?

-The morale sunk.

-Yeah?

-But I think we just had...

A little reprieve. I think it's back up where it should be now.

People are smiling again, which is great.

Do you have a lot of respect for these guys...

-Oh, yeah.

-..who've been through this for real?

It shows they are proper elite-level athletes, aren't they?

When you think about what they can do and they do all this,

it's just like, "Yeah, you're elite."

You're all fit people, but it's a bit more than that, isn't it?

I knew, physiologically, that wasn't going to be the problem.

It's just...mentally is where the games are going to be won and lost.

The recruits arrive

at the next checkpoint and Jason gives them a new challenge.

All right. We are currently located here,

at our water resupply point.

They have to pick up a guerrilla casualty

and then transport it to where they will be setting up camp

for the night.

But the recruits aren't told how far they will have to travel

or how long it will take.

We'll do a rota about who carries, OK?

Cos it's really starting to grind people down.

The test is designed to see

if they can fight the fatigue

and stay focused.

YELLING

EXPLOSIONS

The last time the recruits were kept up at night

was during the Navy Seals phase on day one.

However, since then,

they've effectively burned the same amount of energy

they would have if they had run a marathon every day

for the last six days.

To be able to function under these kind of conditions

is exactly what the SASR looks for in its recruits.

At this point, they are really at the limits of fatigue.

The real need for the sleep deprivation

is to try and break them down to their bare-bones character.

If we start to see those character traits

that wouldn't be a good fit, then that is what we want to expose,

because on operations in special forces,

there will be times where you go for long periods of without food,

long periods without sleep,

you have to make good, sound judgment and good decisions, too.

OK, Doran, do you want to set off?

It's midnight and the task has pushed Hunter,

one of the strongest recruits,

over the edge.

No, you go, you go. No, no, no. I'm having a word with the staff.

You go. You go. Go.

Can I fill my discharge papers in, please, sir?

-Is that what you want to do?

-It's what I want to do, yeah.

That's it for you, then, mate.

It's just battered me to bits, really.

There's only so much you can take, really. So...

For me own health, I'm just pulling the plug on it for me.

I'm just good for my age, and that's it.

I can't keep up with them, you know, young guns.

I weren't expecting to keep up with them.

-Hunter has gone?

-Hunter's gone?

Oh, he's a bit of a legend.

No, he ain't, is he? Oh, devvoed.

-He is like a mule.

-Oh...

-The man was a hero.

-Wasn't he?

He's a fucking ox, that man.

-Salute to Hunter.

-Yeah, let's give them our fucking...

-To the fucking predator.

-See you later, Hunter.

This is getting silly.

Casualty!

-Casualty.

-Casualty - I will go up ahead.

Let's get moving, guys.

The recruits reached the simulated guerrilla casualty -

a 50kg dummy.

They will have to carry it until Jason tells them they can stop.

Some of the guys are absolutely done in.

It's affecting us now in all different sorts of ways.

I think people...

They want their beds, they want some food.

Can we get replacements, please?

MAN GRIMACES

The recruits take it in turns with the stretcher,

but extreme fatigue, and having no idea

when things might end ,is really starting to mess with their heads.

After being out here, just totally plays tricks with your mind,

with you being so low on food and sleep, it's just...

HE SIGHS

I think there's somebody out there. There is or was some people.

Left or right?

I just...zoned out a little bit.

Welcome to Vietnam.

Oh...can't wait for this to be finished. Fucking horrible.

Heads up.

Come on, guys, drive it out.

Where I'm walking, my body is shadowing where I'm walking.

Finally at 2:30 AM,

they reach their checkpoint

and after 18-and-a-half hours of punishing tasks and no food,

Jason gives the recruits some welcome news.

Careful, careful!

So, here's the deal. Well done on the stretcher carry.

You can just get your sleeping bag out and...get your boots off tonight.

Do we get to eat our rations now, Staff?

Negatron.

At least Hunter is in a hotel, now.

SNORING

The recruits have only had three hours' sleep.

But they are about to get a rude awakening.

Get the flags, get the flags!

Gas, gas, gas, gas!

They are exhausted and close to breaking point, and now,

they are facing a gas attack in enemy territory.

Get your bags, get your bags, let's go, let's go, let's go!

Gas masks on.

Move, let's move, let's move. Got to get to the track.

Move, let's move!

Pick it up and go!

Come on, let's move, let's move. Pick it up and go, pick it up and go!

Everyone manages to flee the gas attack quickly...

..except for Parrish.

Yeah, so, Parrish was given one minute to be on the road, ready to move.

He was the only one who didn't start moving.

That's a black mark against his name.

So, Parrish racked up one black mark yesterday,

then he went out unscathed for the rest of the day.

This morning, Parrish has racked up another black mark.

So, he's got to go through the entire day now at his best performance,

otherwise we can find grounds to send him home.

Parrish, how are you?

Back on Jason's watchlist,

Parrish is reunited with the recruits a kilometre down the road.

I always start the day,

just to make it even more interesting for myself,

with one black mark, so as ever, it will be a...

-LAUGHING:

-Let's see what happens. Will I hang in? Hm...

The remaining ten recruits

are going to really have to pull together

to get through the next challenge.

The recruits are being sent over to the guerrillas' island camp

to engage in a role-play that will test their mental strength,

patience and diplomacy skills.

Since its formation, the Australian SASR

has proved support to a variety of indigenous forces

throughout the world.

The role-play tests the recruits' ability

to remain respectful of different cultures under pressure.

Going across to the island, I'm going to nominate a new leader, and...

-Bent, you've got it there, brother.

-OK.

You're going to take us onto the island.

-You got that, mate?

-Yeah.

-You understand?

-Yeah, yeah.

I've cycled from London to India, run across America...

Anything that causes me pain, I absolutely love it,

so fingers crossed that there's going to be loads of pain in this

and I'm going to absolutely thrive on it.

Bent was in impressive form during the NAVSOG phase,

when he was the first to complete Dante's Ironman.

-19!

-Come on, tell me...

-20!

-You going to stop now?

21!

Bent has never had to step up as leader

and he knows Jason will be watching him closely.

As leader, all that Bent has been told about the challenge

is that he'll have to maintain good relations with the guerrillas

at all costs.

But, as we saw yesterday,

the guerrillas can be a bit of a handful,

so are they going to cope with them, having had just three hours' sleep?

-Welcome. Come in.

-Thank you.

-Come in. Come in, come in.

Take yourself a seat. How are you? Take the load off. Hi.

Pleased to see you.

-Bent?

-Yes, sir.

-All right. Just call me Boss.

-Boss.

-There are some tasks that I need you to undertake, all right?

-OK.

All right.

The guerrillas have set up a number of seemingly simple tasks

for the recruits.

They have to build a medical tent, a chicken coop...

Points to note - it must be rectangular.

..and a gun emplacement with a waist-deep trench.

-All right? Is that understood?

-OK, Boss.

However, the instructions for the medical tent

are deliberately misleading.

They only have one small spade to dig the trench with.

This is going to take ages.

And Jason has instructed the guerrillas to keep

changing their minds about the design of the chicken coop.

It's got to be a rectangle.

OK, let's all get in a nice little huddle.

On top of all this, the guerrillas also want them

to memorise the words of their war chant.

What's going to happen...

"We fight all the way, to live another day.

"We never give our ground until the last man is down."

The tasks are deliberately designed

to grind down the recruits' mental resolve.

In order for them to be successful,

they have to persevere without showing any emotion or frustration.

It's a key attribute that the SASR requires from all its soldiers.

As leader, Bent will have to diffuse any potential conflicts

that may arise with the guerrillas.

-Is this...is this a chicken coop?

-Yes, sir.

Clearly, a chicken coop is a triangle.

Sorry - we were told that you said rectangle by our boss.

-Who told you a rectangle?

-Our boss, Sir.

Call your boss over.

Hi.

My boss told you to build it in a triangle, didn't he?

He told me to build it as a rectangle, but...

I'll call my boss over.

Boss, we've got a bit of a communication problem here.

Why is this like this?

I believe you told me I need to make it in a rectangular shape, Boss.

I thought you said rectangular.

Sorry, guys, that's my fault. I misheard.

"We fight it all the way to live another day."

"We never give our ground until that the last man is down."

-Huh!

-Huh!

-Huh!

Curnyn and Miller have rebuilt the chicken coop.

But once again, the guerrillas have some last-minute changes.

It's in the wrong place. It needs to be at least five metres that way.

Too much light on the chickens, they won't like it.

They won't lay eggs, it'll put them off.

It needs to be moved.

The progress being made on the gun emplacement is also short-lived.

Not good enough - look at that. See that? Not good enough.

How do we change it, then?

-You need to build it like a brickwork.

-Brickwork.

IDF fire? That will happen.

Not good enough. Rounds coming in...

More sandbags...

No, not good enough. Needs better doing.

After three hours' sleep and no food since yesterday morning,

the recruits are beginning to crack

under the pressure from the guerrillas,

particularly Proctor.

He has become convinced that he is about to be kidnapped.

This has got set-up written all over it.

Keep getting eyeballs on me.

If I get snatched, you're going to have to sort this out.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

I am just telling him I want these guys getting eyes on me,

cos if I get snatched, then...

You never know, do you?

Aware of the recruits' mental and physical condition,

Bent is losing patience with the guerrillas.

If you have issues, come and get me over,

cos I think I need to say to them,

if they ask you to move it again, I'll say, "Look, we're helping you,

"if you're not happy with it, I'm afraid you will have to do it yourselves."

What are you trying to achieve with this sleep deprivation?

What we don't want to see is that frustration development

based around, or solely based around,

the fact that they haven't slept for a while,

or they haven't eaten for a while.

We want to see the them with that consistent attitude

that they get on with the task, they don't show emotion,

they don't show the frustration as a result of that,

that they can just put that aside and continue with the task.

After four draining hours on the island

and with Jason looking on, Bent's leadership skills

are about to be tested to the limit.

So, I'm going to send the guerrillas in to really amp up the situation

and really escalate a problem,

and we are just going to see how the leadership deals with that situation.

In order to impress Jason,

Bent will be expected to diffuse the situation.

The big thing is not using any negative words or phrases -

always remaining positive or neutral.

This chicken coop...

-Yes.

-Down there.

It's facing the wrong way. You need to turn it around.

Sir...we are here...

We have been here to help you and we have changed it twice for you.

-We aren't going to do it again.

-Bent, can I just be clear here?

-You have got it facing the wrong way. It needs to be facing north.

-Boss...

-Boss, you can't treat us in this manner.

-Say that again to me.

So you're saying that somehow, we are disrespecting you?

-It is the other way around.

-No, sir it's not.

-You need to get on with that.

-My men here - look around -

are working their socks off for you, sir.

Mickey? Mickey, get them all in.

Right, listen, everybody. Get him round here.

No dawdling, get in here! What a rag tag...

Call yourselves an army?

You've got no integrity, no self-discipline,

no moral courage...

You've got nothing!

-Sir, we have worked very, very hard...

-Shut up!

Shut up, before I snap your spine.

When we have a civil conversation, perhaps we can...

Did you hear that, Mick? Did you hear what he just said?

Until we calm down...

Don't you tell me to calm down in my own effing camp!

The lot of you, now, just fucking get off here now!

-Out!

-You have crossed the line.

-You have crossed the line.

-You are a liability. Now, move it.

-You ought to get off our island.

Do you understand?

Instead of defusing the situation,

Bent actually manages to escalate it.

Shut up! What's this, a bastard holiday camp?

He was clearly told that any time there was an escalation,

he has to de-escalate and keep the guerrillas onside,

so I think he really failed at that task right then.

Get off!

It's the guerrilla leader himself, rather than Bent,

who actually defuses the situation.

You should fucking apologise to me.

Bent, I need an apology from you.

You've shown me up here, in front of mine. I need an apology.

Boss, I am very, very sorry if I have insulted you.

I absolutely, fully, fully mean that.

You need to listen to what I am saying.

I am doing it for your sake. OK? You've got to respect me.

I will respect you, sir.

They should be trying to de-escalate those situations.

We shouldn't have to ramp down our side because they've failed on theirs.

-Let's do it.

-All right, go on.

Look forward to whatever we are doing later.

Look forward to working with you, Mickey.

'If I experience aggression like that'

I normally would just move away from it.

But unfortunately, we are in a situation here

where...moving away isn't an option.

And my task is to, um...

..warm them to our unit.

HE SIGHS

I haven't done very well so far.

With Bent firmly on Jason's radar for all the wrong reasons,

the task is coming to an end.

But before the next challenge, the recruits will finally be able

to eat for the first time in nearly 30 hours.

But there is a twist.

A very special delicacy of ours.

Come and enjoy it with me.

It's a stewed pig's head.

Ahhh!

Take a piece.

Take a piece and enjoy.

It's 30-year-old Spicer's worst nightmare,

as he is a vegan.

You do need to take something from us, though.

It is an insult not to eat our delicacy.

-Then I will take something from you.

-You must eat it.

We are being friends here, let's not get into an argument.

It is good for you. It is really good for you.

Although Spicer doesn't eat the food himself,

he appeases the guerrillas by sharing out his portion

amongst the other recruits.

The celebratory dinner and everything else.

It may be something similar to what they would expect

if they were to deploy to a foreign country

and have to partake in festivities like that.

When you are out in the field, you don't get to pick what you eat.

If you are eating local food, it is

whatever the locals may cook up for you.

The meal ends with the recruits singing the guerrillas' war chant.

Now that we are ready, remember we taught you our warrior song.

-# We fight all the way!

-We fight all the way!

-# To live another day!

-To live another day!

-# We never give our ground!

-We never give our ground!

-# Till the last man is down!

-Till the last man is down! #

Huur!

THEY CHUCKLE

Good. You did well.

I wouldn't have ordered it in a restaurant, don't get me wrong.

But next time, I will.

Hi, fellas. Listen, while you're sitting there eating real quick,

you will be on a moment's notice to move in the next five minutes.

So scoff that up, five minutes, and then we are ready to roll.

For the final challenge, Jason wants to see if,

after two days of the toughest training the recruits have ever faced,

that they are willing to take even more.

He wants them to do another ruck run with their 20-kilo Bergens.

But this time, it is three times as long.

The next event is going to take place here.

It is going to move in that direction for 15km.

And we are going to get there at best speed.

I realise that we have been through hell and back right now

and everyone is feeling the hurt.

But I expect you to keep up with me.

As the magnitude of what the recruits are being asked to do

starts dawning on them,

now is the time that Jason will be looking for those

who aren't mentally tough enough.

This is really designed to test their mental resolve.

So what I'm looking for is that willingness to want to continue,

even though they have just been through hell.

Whenever I think that we are just going to get to go home...

I know!

..it doesn't happen.

This one is just going to be hold your breath.

Hold your breath and just do it. That's all right.

I am full of pig so we have got fuel now, haven't we?

All right.

But not one recruit signs the Withdrawal At Own Request form.

Who wants to come with me? Let's go.

-That is what we are here for.

-Are you guys good?

-All right, let's move it out.

-Let's rock and roll.

The recruits don't know it,

but Jason is only going to make them march for 1km.

The fact that they are willing to do the full 15

means they have passed the test.

Well done, everybody. You just finished the phase.

-You...!

-We don't believe you one bit.

LAUGHTER

Group hug!

-Oh, I am so desperate for another 15K!

-I'm gutted!

Do know what is incredible? We were all going to do it!

We were absolutely wrecked, just totally wrecked,

but it is like OK, it is just another thing.

We will do it.

The past two days have been absolutely insane.

But the remaining recruits have impressed us so much

by just getting through it.

But Jason has the final word on who stays and who goes.

And any of them could be sent home in the final parade.

How is everyone going?

What we did out there would have broken the average man on the street.

Guaranteed.

You guys continued and I absolutely applaud you for that, well done.

-Curnyn.

-Sir.

We needed new leadership, you stepped up to the plate and you crushed it.

Good job, mate.

But I have got some decisions to make.

Parrish.

You picked up a black mark on the first day,

for coming in last on the five clicker.

You picked up a second black mark on the second day.

You just didn't listen to my instructions at that point.

Bent.

You did not de-escalate the situation at the guerrilla camp.

That should have been defused right about there, but you didn't do it.

Put you guys through hell out there.

But when it came down to the last event,

the 15 clicker,

that was a test.

That was a test to see

if you guys would push ourselves

beyond your physical limitations.

And everybody stepped up to the plate there.

You have all got my respect for that.

So because of that,

everybody is going to the next stage.

Well done. Good job out there.

From here, you guys are dismissed.

It's...a surprise, yeah. I seem to sort of hang in there, don't I?

God, it was really tough. So, yeah. I am dreading tomorrow.

That was the most difficult by far.

I want to know where my limits on and how far I can push myself

and I'm finding out.

Carb up, baby. Danny boy.

Just to hear you're not going to be chucked off is such a great thing.

Well, you think it is a great thing at the time, and then it settles in

and you realise you are going to be blasted again for the next two days.

Next time...

the recruits face an agonising 48 hours...

with a veteran of the Russian Spetsnaz.

You are bleeding!

You are dying!

They are confronted by even tougher challenges...

Everybody is just in absolute agony.

Some of you may think you know what hell looks like.

..and forced to face their most primal fears.

-You have no fucking idea.

-Fuck you, fuck you! Whoo!