GROMS - Poland Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week

Here under the scorching African sun...

SCREAMING

..we have created the ultimate military boot camp.

-Oh, my God!

-With veterans of six of the world's

fiercest special forces units,

22 of Britain's toughest civilians are about to enter a fortnight

of hell.

-I can't...!

-Get it up!

SCREAMING

Each and every one of them believes they have what it takes to make

-it to the end.

-I've never quit anything in my life.

Do I think I can win? Yeah, I think I have what it takes.

-I'm ready for it.

-And standing in their way are former operatives from

the South Korean Special Forces.

What is going on here?

Get up! You want to quit?

The US Army's Green Berets.

If you throw up, stick it in your pocket and keep going.

-Argh!

-Ow!

GROM From Poland.

Do not move, do not talk.

Two minutes. Prepare your bergen.

The South African Special Forces.

Get up! Do it today.

-I want it done now!

-The Australian SAS.

Yes, yes, yes. Come on, come on, come on.

And GIGN from France.

-Fighting stance!

-ALL SCREAM

Living under a strict military regime,

our recruits will experience the unique selection methods to

understand the characteristics and skills required to become a member

of one of these elite units.

-Down!

-SHE VOMITS

What's happening?

Who has the inner strength to make it to the end...

We are not going to stop till somebody quits.

..and to win?

Special Forces - Ultimate Hell Week.

What's going on? You are in my world!

Come on, sunshine.

22 recruits were introduced to elite military training

by a veteran of the South African Recces.

How is it that you managed to screw this up?

-Put it down everybody, down.

-You like backchatting, eh?

You've got time to laugh?!

-This is a joke?

-Here we have the stomach.

Somerville was the first to exit the process.

Pack your bags and get out of here.

-Off you go.

-Francis was beaten by the heat.

Are you quitting? And don't fall over me.

-Don't fall over on me.

-Logan was sent packing at the final parade.

You're no longer a part of this process.

Please exit off my parade now.

And the relentless military regime pushed Isrolia over the edge.

-It's a bit too much, to be honest.

-It was a pleasure meeting you.

-Thank you very much.

Deep in the heart of South Africa,

18 recruits are based in a purpose-built camp.

With no recovery time after training under the South African phase,

our recruits are about to be pushed to their limits once again.

SPEAKS IN POLISH

That means...

do not move and do not talk.

I don't say welcome on board.

This is not place for everybody.

My name is Rafal.

I came from Poland. I am former GROM Special Forces.

I have spent 20 years in military, including 15 years in GROM.

First activated in 1990

after two Polish diplomats were shot in Beirut,

GROM is named after the Silent Unseen,

Poland's elite World War II Special Operations Unit,

and was originally modelled on the British SAS.

Its main objectives include counterterror and unconventional warfare.

To break someone physically is not a problem,

but we will see...

how you are strong psychologically.

Today we start

from physical exercises.

I want to see

maximum engagement.

You cheat me,

you cheat yourself.

Rafal's made it very clear that today is all about

the psychological, but the first thing he's got them to do is physical.

Now, if I was one of the recruits, I wouldn't know what to think.

The eyes, they're dark. It's like he's been through everything.

You can tell. I mean, we're quite baby-eyed, but the stance, the look,

it's...it's frightening.

Everything about him is intimidating.

And, generally, I'm really quite scared of him.

I came here to break them physically and psychologically.

If they don't follow orders, I dismiss them.

In GROM, all students must pass a fitness standard to make it through

to selection.

To test our recruits,

Rafal's devised a circuit including rope and ladder climbs,

-pull-up bars.

-Start with pull-ups. In your position.

Box jumps

and shuttle runs.

Go! Flat out!

-Full speed!

-Each physically demanding station targets

-a different muscle group.

-Use proper technique to find...

..the moment to rest and also to do exercise.

Its purpose - to weed out the weak.

Let's go, let's go! You are too slow!

Downham, a teacher who's represented Scotland in swimming,

got off to a bad start in the South African phase.

You and you, stay behind.

She was in the bottom five in the fitness test,

but stepped up in the final challenge.

Quitting is not an option. I think they're leaving the girls to do the

heavy lifting in all honesty, Reggie, mate.

She's keen to show that women, although not accepted in

special forces units, should not be overlooked.

People automatically think bimbo.

I lift heavier weights than 90% of the men who go to my CrossFit gym.

My mother would be absolutely gutted if I got put out from the Polish

special forces. She's half Polish herself,

so I'm in this one to make them proud.

The compound effect of the last 48 hours of intense training

is starting to take its toll.

Don't, Sparks. Don't, Sparks.

You're losing your control here.

Control your own body. Let's go.

Sparks struggled at the beginning of the South African phase.

You want to stay here, pick it up.

He's an expedition leader and adventurer.

When I'm back in society,

I feel like I'm waiting to go again and then when

I go on these trips, I feel like I'm really living.

And has military ambitions beyond Ultimate Hell Week.

I have considered joining the military.

I tried Sandhurst and I mucked up a stage,

but there's an appeals process

and I'm still waiting to hear whether I was successful.

Come on, come on. Let's go.

The ladder looks definitely difficult to navigate.

Was this something that the GROM would use in operations at all?

Yes. We are using, for example, when we are attacking the vessels.

-Right.

-So the team need to take control

-of the vessel.

-How would you use it?

Er...

I'm sorry, but I cannot give you the details.

As one of the few units specialised in night ship assaults,

GROM was assigned to the Persian Gulf by the UN in 2002.

Their purpose? To stop arms traffic.

Hang for ten seconds.

Hang. Hang in there.

Driving instructor and father-of-two Nawaz failed to impress the former

South African special forces colonel.

I said put the block down, not chuck the fricking thing down!

-Nawaz needs help.

-And was picked out in the final parade.

Nawaz, you're physically weak.

But he feels he has what it takes to make it to the end.

Every day I'm in the gym, every day I'm doing something active.

I have that urgency, that buzz.

I need to get out and do something.

I'm very patient, I can take a lot of stick.

Do I think I could win? Mentally, yeah, I think I could, yeah.

I think I have what it takes.

But on the first exercise, he's caught out by the ropes.

And I fell straight down.

Obviously friction caused three fingers to burn.

I tried to sort of grab on again,

but by that time, my hands were just totally gone.

Nawaz is obviously injured off the back of the ropes.

-How's he going to do?

-I don't care.

I don't care about this.

They have only two option - quit or continue.

Go!

Ready? Hands down.

Personal trainer Ferguson found the South African phase

difficult to stomach.

At least you should have a smell of this.

-No, thank you.

-Yeah? Sure?

-HE RETCHES

Bullied at school.

14 years old and joined the gym.

Never looked back.

At 26, he's the same age as an average GROM operator,

but this process will test if he has all of the capabilities required for

-their selection.

-I used to have really bad anger problems.

I'm not a Buddhist, but when I was in Thailand,

I learned a lot of things about it that helped

this thing to calm down.

You're slacking now, Fergus.

Come on. Come on, Ferguson.

BREATHES HEAVILY

Let's go!

The bear crawls, I'm horrible, because I've got big, long legs.

It's easier for the wee midgets.

Ferguson, you've had enough rest.

-Let's go!

-It's horrible. Takes everything out of you.

Over to the other side.

Let's go.

Go, go!

One, two...

One individual keen to impress and proving strong

is 30-year-old Harrison.

I love all the superhero movies, I love '80s horror.

I love WWE.

I'm a crazy wrestling fan.

As a fitness and lifestyle coach,

he's mentally prepared for the challenge.

This is all to do with not quitting.

I want to go in this and give it everything I've got and just not

give in till the absolute death.

In GROM selection, as things get tough,

instructors single out the physically weak to test their

psychological strength.

Mok, do you want to quit?

-No, sir.

-Go, Mok!

Want to quit?

-No, never, sir.

-We'll see.

Get your feet off the deck!

KLAXON

Go, let's go. Let's go.

After a couple of hours of intense training,

Rafal calls time on the first exercise.

OK.

Position.

Don't cheat with this position.

Some of you...

..came for a vacation here.

Ferguson, you need to change your behaviour.

You cheat me.

Nawaz, you didn't do as much as possible.

This was not what I wanted to see.

Keep the position, please.

At the end of the first test,

Nawaz and Ferguson are both on Rafal's radar.

Stand up.

The next phase is designed to test recruits' mental abilities in the field.

Now get as much information about your partner as possible.

Dismiss the group.

The recruits have been divided into pairs and have one hour to complete

-the task.

-60 minutes, and go.

You have been testing our recruits physically and now you've sent them

off to do something psychological.

What exactly are they doing and why?

This is a simple task.

Gather as much information as possible

and they don't know that I will test them

tomorrow morning.

If they don't give me proper information,

-I destroy them.

-You're looking forward to it?

I'm looking forward to it, believe me.

-Where do you live?

-I don't have a home.

I live in my tent and my tent moves with me.

Lives in a tent.

-Do you have any nicknames?

-I do, yeah.

-Bomber.

-Bummer?

-Bomber.

B-O-M-B-E-R.

B... Oh, Bomber.

From boxing. Ben "Bomber" Blowes.

Are you close to your sister?

Aye, really close with both my brother and my sister.

What was your mum and dad doing?

Er, my mum's deceased.

Overdose.

Jesus Christ, that's horrible.

Aye.

When did your mum die, then?

Erm, my mum died 2009.

So, Sparks, what is your biggest achievement?

I rowed across the Indian Ocean in 71 days.

That's amazing.

First ever unsupported row from Australia to the Seychelles.

So, have any surprises come out

in this interview about each other, then?

-Anything that you didn't know?

-Things were getting a bit emotional.

I was just telling him that my mum passed away.

She took her own life and I was telling him.

It's actually quite impressive that you're able to be so matter-of-fact

about something that is so huge.

The world doesn't stop for people or anybody,

so you need to get on with it.

With seven hours under the strict rule of Rafal complete,

the recruits face a long and vicious climb to the next challenge.

Upon arrival, they're split into two teams,

then immediately put back into the squat position for the briefing.

Simple infantry exercise.

You need to dig a trench.

70 centimetres distance between each other.

50 centimetres wide.

30 centimetres deep.

And one metre and a half long. Clear?

ALL: Yes, sir!

Go!

Rafal is looking for decisive thinking and speed.

Yeah, we've got to be 70 centimetres away from them.

-Yeah.

-And then 1.2 away from each other?

No, no, no. 12.5 metres long altogether.

The Orange team have completely misunderstood the instructions.

-One trench, one big trench, no?

-One big trench.

That is about 50 centimetres, yeah?

-And a half.

-Yeah, so mark yours, yeah?

But the yellow team have found their secret weapon...

Start the first, dig your line and then we'll move along.

..in father-of-three and amateur boxer Burch.

I've had, like, about 100 fights.

I've never been put down.

I've never been stopped.

Trying to find out whether I am immortal, I think.

Reason I'm here, I'm from...

Two of my kids have got type one diabetes.

I keep telling them they can do anything they want to do

with their life, never give up, so I'm going to show them

Dad's going to get tortured and he ain't going to give up.

While the yellow team dig deeper, the orange team are in disarray

and ten minutes in, still haven't started.

-Listen to me.

-Guys!

15 seconds, spread out and start to dig.

If not, I dismiss you.

-Start to dig, guys.

-Just start digging.

So, Rafal, what can you tell me about this task?

Because this looks impossible in this heat, particularly after that run as well.

-Right, shovel into it, like that, yeah?

-Right.

Boom. Boom.

Burch, taking his skills as a labourer,

took action and says, "Right, hold on.

"Three spades this way, one spade that way, that spade deep.

"Let's get it done." So assertive and so neat and so amazing. The guy's a legend.

OK. Stop digging.

Stop digging.

We switch the group.

You will be finishing

their work.

You will be finishing

their work. Switch the group.

I thought we were doing good over there and then they moved us.

So it's mind games, isn't it? It's all mind games.

When I see somebody sitting

or standing...you leave the group.

After 45 minutes of digging,

Rafal has spotted two recruits from the orange team he thinks are not

-putting in maximum effort.

-Stand up.

Nawaz, Okafor...

your T-shirts are too dry.

Dig and to make your T-shirt wet like the others.

Go.

Nawaz, for you, is second black mark.

For the rest of you...

..go.

Nawaz, you've been asked to dig more because you're not sweating enough.

I'm not a very sweaty guy, mate.

-Do you think he's going to stand for that "I don't really sweat very much" excuse?

-No.

-So what are you going to do?

-I'm digging as hard as I can now, man.

Keep working, man. Don't stop. Don't stop.

South London twerk instructor Okafor

went down with hypothermia during the South African phase.

I have never felt such cold before in my life.

She believes she has what it takes.

I feel like in life there's a certain amount of ruthlessness

that you need. That's what kind of separates people.

Are you going to win or are you going to lose?

Okafor, do you think you've been unfairly selected as somebody who

-isn't sweating enough?

-Yeah, I mean,

when in life is a lady penalised for not sweating?

I mean, that is really...

It looks like you're working hard to me. What's going on?

Because my, my, my sweat glands are just chilling today,

-but what chef here wants, chef here gets.

-Yeah.

Ferguson, who was picked out for bad attitude in the fitness test,

is still on Rafal's radar.

Ferguson.

Nobody's allowed to sit.

Go to the middle.

-Have you got any problem?

-No.

First position.

What do you prefer to do?

-This exercise or dig?

-Dig.

So dig.

And pay attention to your action.

But back in the trench, things get worse for Ferguson.

Use your hands.

After two hours of backbreaking work in the 35 degree heat,

Rafal calls time.

Stop digging.

And puts them in the squat position again.

That is good work. Good job.

Now you restore the ground to nature,

as soon as possible. Go!

I don't understand how no-one's complaining right now.

This is torture.

Are there any two in particular that stand out as people that should be

worried ahead of tomorrow? Who hasn't pulled their weight today?

Ferguson, he broke the spade. I didn't like his behaviour.

-Right.

-And Nawaz.

He is really slow.

Some of them did really not a bad job.

Unimpressed by most of the recruits' efforts,

Rafal dismisses them to base camp to wait for his next instruction.

I broke the spade because I was digging too hard,

and he blamed me for breaking it. I was digging with my hands.

He still blamed me...

I couldnae have done...

I just cannae do right today, I don't know.

After 11 hours under the searing South African sun,

the recruits get a chance to load up with some much-needed calories.

Digging the hole wasn't too bad actually.

And Burch, Burch has to be credited for that one.

He was the only one that got, like, credited by Rafal.

Like, at the end, he said, "Good job, Burch."

He was getting upset, because the two of us were in the bath together earlier.

He weren't happy about it.

Sometimes you just connect.

-I looked him in the eye first day I met him and I just thought, "Love."

-"He's mine."

OK, come up outside.

After a tough third day of special forces training,

the recruits all need patching up.

-So these are rope burns?

-Yes.

I can see you've taken all the skin out of that one.

Is that going to sting?

-Erm, no.

-No?

Yeah, it stings.

Did that come out of there?

It came out of that?

At 10.30pm, it's time for lights out.

OK, if you need to do anything, use your head torches.

-Good night, Donoghue.

-Good night, Palama.

Attention!

Just three hours later and Rafal wakes the recruits.

Prepare your bergen, ready for marching.

Two minutes, fall in. Go.

He has plans to test their psychological strength and alertness

throughout the night.

30 seconds.

During GROM selection,

sleep deprivation is used to push recruits to their limits to find

-individual weaknesses.

-Fall in.

Go!

Not a single recruit arrives at the parade ground on time,

in full uniform or with their bergen ready.

Two minutes, prepare your bergen for marching. Go!

The recruits are given one more chance to try and impress Rafal.

Ten seconds left.

Tonight he will punish the recruits for the slightest mistake.

Two minutes passed.

Fall in at the parade ground.

Move!

Nawaz, you are too slow.

Nobody move.

Playing mind games, Rafal leaves the recruits standing to attention.

For me,

they don't treat this seriously.

Nawaz was really slow.

He's not wanting us to mess about.

He's looking to catch us out big time.

Be prepared for anything.

That's what it's all about, right?

After an hour, punishment for the recruits' consistent lateness

is Rafal's default position.

Squat.

But this time, wearing their 12kg bergens.

Nawaz, keep the arms in proper position.

Plank.

Nawaz, what's happened?

Why are you shaking?

You are too weak.

Too slow.

Stand up.

After five minutes of misery,

the recruits are told to remove their bergens

and told to continue planking.

But Nawaz is still struggling.

Lower ass, Nawaz.

Lower ass.

Do you want to stay or quit?

Continue.

Stand up.

Belly exercise.

As the exercises continue through the night, Okafor -

on Rafal's radar from yesterday - is also not impressing.

Push-up position.

Squat.

Okafor.

What about you? Do you want to be able to continue further?

You want to quit?

I'm staying, sir.

After two hours, Rafal calls an end to the agony on the parade ground.

Stand up.

Take your bergen.

Go back to sleep.

We've been battered on the parade ground.

Attention.

Just half an hour after going to bed, Rafal wakes the recruits again.

Approach the table.

Constantly disrupted sleep is proven to break the sleep cycle,

which can affect both physical and mental performance.

This is the paper.

Those are the pictures.

You can share the pictures.

Go back to your bed, take the paper, and do this.

Now Rafal has set them an origami test,

to test their problem-solving ability while sleep deprived.

I've not got a brain for trouble solving.

I'm a fighter, not a mathematician.

After a night of constant physical and mental punishment,

some of the recruits are beginning to struggle.

Don't cross the table.

I've tried to do the dimensions with my hands.

Parrott is the first to complete the problem-solving task.

Go back to sleep.

-WHISPERS:

-The secret is to twist the paper.

Very close. I just can't find out the last bit.

With no other recruits finding the solution,

eventually, Rafal has seen enough.

I'm really disappointed. Really weak.

Do not think properly.

Go back to sleep.

With virtually no sleep throughout the night,

just ten minutes later, the recruits are woken AGAIN for the day ahead.

Right, OK, first five minutes,

detail is going to be square this away.

Obviously, there's kit everywhere from last night's fun and games.

And Okafor reflects on being singled out last night by Rafal.

I've really had to be introspective

and think that maybe I did come with some arrogance,

that "Oh, I'm strong, oh, I can do this."

And then I was shown that I wasn't as strong as I thought I was.

I think it's how you deal with that humbling.

It can either break you or make you want to actually be

the person you thought you were.

Yeah, last night was pretty tough. Pretty tough.

Just the repetition, sort of, you know, simple process.

It wasn't sort of expecting that, to be honest.

Go.

The night exercise has given Rafal

a chance to evaluate all the recruits,

and some are still on his radar.

I have to admit that you are psychologically strong.

But this is not everything.

Physically...you are weak.

Okafor.

You weren't able to accomplish simple task.

Go back.

Nawaz, forward.

The simple task...

was to be on time at the parade ground.

You are always last one.

The slowest one.

Even Okafor was able to be on time.

I dismiss you from the group.

Remember this lesson.

Failing to show maximum engagement,

Nawaz is the latest casualty of the process.

Nawaz! What happened?

In all honesty, I'm pretty gutted.

I thought I'd get a lot further than this.

But why do you think that you've only come so far?

I think it's just bad luck, to be honest, mate,

just with my hands all pretty much messed up.

Like I said, I was just struggling to get my kit on time, really.

I said I'd never give up,

so at least I can walk out with my head held high.

-Best of luck, all right?

-Thank you very much.

-Look after yourself.

-Thank you very much.

-Cheers, Nawaz.

Now 17 recruits remain.

After a night of sleep deprivation,

the true purpose of Rafal's Q&A task is about to become clear.

Okafor, forward.

They must recall the information they gathered

about their partners yesterday.

How long has Harrison's stepdad been retired?

For a year? Sir.

A wrong answer will mean a plunge in a freezing cold ice bath.

Get in. Refresh yourself.

Let's go. Move yourself! Move, move, move!

Get down. All the way down.

Go back that way. Go, go, go, go!

Who is the most important person in Harrison's life?

His best friend Warwick.

They've been friends for 16 years, sir.

Get to refresh once again.

Come on, let's go! Why are you standing around?

Back in line.

I think it's suddenly become very clear

what that questionnaire was all about.

Why does Downham not like working with Ferguson?

Because he's got foul language

and needs to wash his mouth out with soap, staff.

Back in line.

Downham, forward.

What year was Sparks born?

1992, sir. The 11th of January.

Back in line.

Ferguson, forward.

When was the last time Stewart cried?

Watching The Lion King, the bit when Mufasa dies.

It gets him every time.

Back in line.

Harrison, forward.

Why does Okafor like working with Burch?

Because he's honest.

Go to refresh yourself.

Come on! Get yourself in the drink.

Go...!

Back in line.

I told you, you need to be more concentrated...

..open-minded.

Dismiss.

Touch your right. Run. Come on.

You've ordered a tank, Ferguson.

Good listener. Absolutely delighted.

-How was that bath?

-Refreshing, I guess.

It wakes you up a little bit, being submerged.

It's the pressure of being up there.

Tired and hungry, but relieved their living nightmare is over,

they tuck into breakfast.

I can't get it in my mouth fast enough.

How have you lot found this special courses expert,

because he doesn't seem to ever be pleased with anything that you do?

No! He's a robot, honestly. He's a robot.

I've never seen him smile.

I think he was sent from hell.

THEY LAUGH

To test me.

How are you getting on off the back of

being dumped in that ice water this morning?

Um, it was exhilarating.

I mean, why not have hypothermia twice, you know?

-Just make a habit of it, why not?

-OK, I'm going to let you guys go,

because clearly, Palama wants to finish off everyone's breakfast.

And lick their plates, too! Good luck, guys, all right?

-ALL:

-Bye!

-Good talking to you.

This is the final challenge.

Really demanding, physically and psychologically.

10km run.

The fastest, the better.

I want to see individual work.

Go.

Straight out of the blocks, 43-year-old

and sub-three-hour marathon runner Blowes takes the lead.

1k from the start is a marker the recruits must run around

and return to the start line.

Five circuits will complete the 10k.

And, as always, Rafal is after maximum effort.

Durance reporting.

Despite Blowes' strong start,

the first recruit to reach the 1k mark is Durance.

You're in first place.

I'm just doing what I can!

I'm not worried about being first.

Durance, a horticultural engineer and keen rugby player.

has always dreamed of a career in the Army.

When I was a kid, I've always wanted to join the TA

and because I was deaf, I just couldn't do it.

I think this is probably my opportunity

to try something very similar.

Some of my friends call me nutter because I don't stop.

I'm always on the move.

Keep it going, man.

Third from the back, Okafor has struggled in the trench dig,

and last night's sleep deprivation,

is keen to prove herself to Rafal.

You seem to have a really chipper, cheery attitude at the moment.

This is hell, surely?

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

When I was training for this, I did 15kg for 13km.

He's asking us to basically do less than that.

So as long as I keep up my own pace, I've got this.

The brutal midday sun and unforgiving terrain

is taking its toll on the already exhausted recruits.

This is so hot. It's crazy.

If I die, I love you, Mum.

Now with most of the recruits past the 4k mark...

-Just a stone?

-Yeah.

-OK.

..Okafor has overtaken four recruits

and is now third fastest woman and going strong.

I'm not hearing any singing!

Coming back, coming back.

Keep going, Okafor.

With the leaders now reaching the 6k mark

and the temperature only getting hotter,

the medical team has ordered the recruits to take on fluids.

And Blowes has dropped back to fourth place

behind Durance, Stewart and Onyiuke.

Blowes, what happened? You were in front.

I've done it about 200 times in running races.

Boom! Gun goes, go off too fast.

Blow up, struggle.

But that's how I race. Do or die.

Do you think you're going to catch up?

No, but no-one's going to catch me up now.

So I'll settle for fourth. I'm 43.

They're all 20-year-olds up ahead of me, or something like that.

But Blowes isn't the only one suffering.

Sparks, how you hanging up?

-Permission to go.

-I am hanging out, Reggie...

out of my ass.

This bag is so heavy.

I swear to God!

Feel I'm carrying a dead body about with me, man!

Downham, fifth from last,

eventually reaches the compulsory water stop.

..if I struggle to get going again...

What is it that you're so worried about with stopping?

-That I won't get going again because my legs are so stiff.

-Yeah.

-Are you starting to seize up?

-"Starting"!?

I seized up about an hour ago, mate.

Now over halfway through,

the combined pressure of 17kg on their backs

and temperatures peaking in the high 30s...

Around me, Ferguson. Stay on your right.

..is pushing the recruits to the limits of their physical endurance.

Downham is continuing to struggle.

Downham, keep going.

Don't you stop.

And Harrison is doing his best to support her...

This is an individual run! We do not help each other!

Come, let's go, let's go, let's go.

..disregarding direct orders from Rafal and the DS.

-Come on, Downham.

-So have you decided to run together?

-No.

-Yes.

-And what was the reason for that?

-Because I want to keep up.

-Come on. Keep going.

Come on, Downham. Come on, come on.

-What was the reason?

-Cos I want to help her out.

-Yeah?

We're a team. We're a team.

I know it's individual, but if I get in trouble for it, so be it.

Keep that going. Come on, that pace. Good.

-Durance...

-Durance...

Two kilometres ahead of Downham and Harrison,

Durance has completed the 10k in first place.

But the misery is still not over.

-Over there, there is an instructor. He gave you instruction.

-Yes.

-Do you want to continue?

-Yes, sir.

Go.

Each recruit must summit the hill carrying their 17kg bergen.

At the top, they are given a nine-digit code

which they must remember and relay to Rafal waiting at the bottom.

It will be a kind of memorising test,

because they think that 10ks will be enough.

So this is a good moment to break somebody psychologically,

especially during such condition.

This is one of our selection elements used in GROM.

Intelligence gathering is one of GROM's major objectives,

so memory tests are used during selection

to assess the recruits' recall abilities.

Durance reporting, sir.

OK. There you go. Remember that code.

Most adults can store between five and nine digits

in their short-term memory.

This can be improved by verbally repeating the digits.

But fatigue seriously affects recall ability.

OK.

Durance has his code...

-Yes, sir.

-Flynn.

..but hot on his heels are Onyiuke, Stewart and Flynn.

-Give me your name.

-HE BREATHES HEAVILY

Staff, my name is Kenechukwu Brian Onyiuke.

Kenna, take vengeance.

Defeat two Jabberwockies, 7-1.

-1, no, Kenna...

-OK.

-..take vengeance.

-Back to Rafal.

-Defeat two Jabberwockies, 7-1.

Recruits must deliver the code perfectly first time,

or return to the top of the hill for a shortened sequence.

Q-A-5...

..C-A-7...

..Q-A-E.

Go back and get the new code.

Take vengeance. Two Jabberwocky...

His mistake leaves the door open for Onyiuke to complete the task first.

Give me the first number of your code.

1. No - N.

Kenna - K. Take - T.

Vengeance - V.

2.

Jabberwocky - J. 7-1, sir.

-Go there.

-Thank you, sir.

How are you feeling after that mental test and this physical one?

I feel good, because the aim was to do my best.

I wasn't concerned about anyone around me, I just kept going.

-All right. Well, well done, man.

-Thank you.

-Go get some rest.

Back on the 10k course,

the next wave of recruits are nearing the finish.

I should really be thanking the Polish guy.

Because he's making me push myself further

than I ever have in my whole life.

And I've done fighting for a long time.

And I'm getting by levels now where I never thought I could ever reach.

Durance has returned to Rafal for his second attempt at the code.

4-K-D-D-Q-I-M-1.

With Durance through, Okafor has only just finished her 10k.

-Do you want to continue, or do you want to...?

-Yes, sir.

Go.

And just behind Okafor are Downham and Harrison.

-You are too slow.

-Yes, sir.

I'll try and be faster, sir.

Go.

Next to try his luck, on his second attempt, is Flynn.

-Go this side.

-Staff, thank you.

He's through, and is quickly followed by Blowes and Burch

on their second attempts.

But hot-headed Ferguson completes it on his first attempt...

-Go this side.

-Thank you.

N-8-I-N-J-9.

Go back.

..while Downham is sent back to the top of the hill.

After pushing herself to breaking point,

next up is Okafor on her second attempt.

F-M-X-0-I-0-L-S, sir.

Go this side.

And she can't hide her relief at completing the task.

Well done. You superstar.

You've done it, you've done it! You finished.

You finished, you finished, you finished, you finished.

Harrison, who excelled in yesterday's fitness test,

is the last man in.

Code?

And faces Rafal for a second attempt.

0-L...

H-A-Z-2-E-M.

Why you are so late?

I just took my time on the way down there, sir.

You don't show me that you gave everything from you.

Yes, sir.

Go this side.

Let's get it off.

On her last legs,

Downham arrived to relay her code to Rafal for the second time.

Give me the code.

0-7-A...

Go back.

And for the second time, she's incorrect.

After two hours and 17 minutes in the blistering heat,

Palama, the only other recruit on the course...

-Code?

-S-1-A-3-I-D-3-6.

Go this side.

..completes the exercise.

But Downham faces the summit for a tortuous third time.

Probably the lowest of the low.

But...I've just got to get up the hill...

..try and remember the code.

-How about we go and join her? Imagine if...

-No...

Oh, no, we're not allowed, we're not allowed.

What a resilient young woman.

Argh!

Sir, permission to cheer colleague on.

-Let's go, Downham!

-Come on, Downham!

-Come on, Downham!

Go, girl! Come on!

She's had a real tough one.

A few more feet, a few more feet.

-Downham, staff.

-Louder.

-RAISED VOICE:

-Downham, staff.

-You OK?

-Yes, staff.

-Good. Going to give you a new code.

30 seconds.

Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

Time is up.

Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

-ALL:

-Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

Parrot, 3-7-8, parrot, Watson.

Give me the code.

P-3-7-8-P-W.

Are you sure?

Are you sure?

-Yes or no?

-Yes.

So, good that you are sure.

You are strong, so keep going.

-Am I clear?

-Yes, sir.

-Go this side.

-Yes!

She's done it. Look at that.

THEY CONGRATULATE HER

As the recruits catch their breath, it's time to discuss

their performances under Rafal's GROM training.

They were all definitely challenged by what you put them through today,

so let's start with the obvious place to start, and that is Downham.

Comparing to the rest of the group, she was slow.

Totally confused,

about the codes.

Harrison was the last man through -

did that register for you at all?

Yeah, yeah.

It surprised me even girls were faster than him,

so I need to rethink his behaviour,

-because they were told to work individually.

-Yeah.

OK, moving on to another one of the recruits - Okafor.

Okafor surprised me in a negative meaning

during the sleep deprivation.

But what I saw today, Okafor did better time than Harrison,

so I really need to rethink everything.

OK, so I'll find out your decision shortly.

Pleasure to talk with you.

That doesn't get any softer, does it?

RAFAL CHUCKLES

I don't think anyone thinks they're actually 100% safe.

I think it could be anybody, really.

But if you do things that are going to draw attention to yourself

and he's not happy with,

you're obviously a little bit more likely to be on the radar.

Hopefully he can see some positives in my...

awful performance today.

I was so anxious, I thought I'm not going to be able to do it,

and then we arrived, and I did it, so...I'd like to stay.

I always demand from people

maximum engagement, full commitment.

Onyiuke, forward.

I was observing you doing physical exercise.

You are really strong. Good psyche.

Good material for the future.

Back to line.

But there are a couple of you disappoint me.

Downham...forward.

You disappointed me...but...

..you never quit, never give up.

Back in line.

Okafor, forward.

You really disappointed me during the sleep deprivation.

But today...

..I was really impressed

to see your maximum engagement.

Back in line.

Harrison, forward.

Harrison, everyone remember what I tell you at the beginning

that I expect individual work.

You didn't do that.

You were running half the time with Downham.

You were the last guy.

There was no maximum engagement.

That's why...

..I dismiss you.

Dismiss the group.

Go!

I'm bloody shocked.

How the hell did that happen?

Harrison.

The rest of your team is leaving right now, just over your shoulder.

What's going through your head?

I'm pretty gutted, obviously, but I'm holding my head up high.

I kept my integrity throughout, you know.

I'm not going to leave someone totally hanging

if they're absolutely, you know... She needed that push.

-Do you think other people should've gone instead of yourself?

-Yeah.

So who should have gone?

I think probably Okafor should have gone.

I think she was probably physically the weakest out of everybody.

Yeah, and I know that it's been difficult

-but is there anything you're going to miss?

-Just the challenge.

This is... Obviously, physically, I've been pushed to my limit,

but I've enjoyed it, and I want more.

But it is what it is.

-Pleasure meeting you.

-You too, man.

-Really well done.

-Yeah.

-Good job.

Still in shock. Just cannot believe that it was him that went.

I thought he'd have maybe sent two home today,

but...just Harrison, the big character in the camp,

so it's going to be a sore one to take for a few people.

-Go, go, go!

-Get out!

I suppose I feel partly responsible for Harrison going.

But...I don't know.

Just feel a bit rubbish about it. It's not fair.

But some recruits have forgotten the past already

and are looking to the future.

No doubt there'll be some crazy bastard

ready to wipe us all out of our beds,

get us running up and down doing that hill again

half five in the morning!

Next time...

Our recruits spend a punishing 48 hours...

Argh!

..under the direction of a former operative

from the US Army's Green Berets.

You'll address me as Sergeant, not sir.

That's because I work for a living.

We are not going to stop till somebody quits.

Teamwork is tested...

THEY YELL

-Seven... Come on! Six...

-..leaders emerge...

Five, four, three, two, one. Time!

..and commitment is called for.

You tell me one more time you're going to quit, you're quitting.