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memri
Aug 09, 2009
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TV Reporter Goes Through Military Training of Iranian Commando

#2236 | 05:01
Source: Channel 2 (Iran)

Following are excerpts from an Iranian reporter's experiences of military training, which aired on Channel 2, Iranian TV, on August 9, 2009.

Voice of reporter: This story began with a craving.

Iranian soldier (opening the door for him): Go ahead, please.

Reporter: Hello, Colonel.

Colonel: Hello, welcome. How are you?

Reporter: Fine, thank you.

Colonel: Please sit down.

Reporter: To tell you the truth, I'd like to accompany the paratroopers and the special forces. You may find this funny, but I would like to hang out with the guys, to undergo a parachuting course, and to jump with a parachute.

Voice of reporter: From the outset, I could see in the eyes of the Commander of the 65th Brigade – or the Commander of the Army Rangers – that I was probably on the wrong track.

Colonel: It is difficult, but we will do our best so you can prepare your TV report.

[...]

Voice of reporter: There are theoretical studies, along with physical training.

Commander (to troops): Are the helmets ready?

What's this? Give me ten squats and push-ups! Go!

Soldiers: One... two... three... four... five... six... seven...

Voice of reporter: And again and again...

Commander: Thirty-two... thirty-three... Hands behind your neck. Hands behind your neck.

Voice of reporter: The first days of training were very difficult.

Commander: Massage his back, and you, massage your stomach. It was your first time, and it was very hard.

Reporter: It's fine now.

Soldier: Up you go! One more, one more... Very good... Get down.

Voice of reporter: But gradually, the difficulties subsided.

Commander: Well done. That was very good.

Reporter: Who came first?

Commander: You did – but from the end!

We paratroopers have to protect ourselves when landing.

Assume the position!

[...]

Look, like this.

Voice of reporter: In brief, there were many stages of training, and they were carried out with precision under the supervision of the master. [We began with] easy, safe landings with the wind in different directions, and landings to the right, to the left, and to the back, and ended with jumps from a platform, 60 centimeters and 1.5 meters high.

Commander: Which part of your backside hits the ground?

Reporter: This part.

Voice of reporter: This is the final stage of our training.

Commander: In this stage, you have to show us...

Voice of reporter: Jumping from a tower dozens of meters high aroused indescribable anxiety. It is clearly frightening.

Commander (to the camera): If he jumps, fine. If not, he's out.

Instructor: There's an ambulance down there.

Good for you...

Instructor: Put your foot forward...

Reporter: I've changed my mind. I can't.

Instructor: How come?

Reporter: Open the harness.

Commander: I know you can do it.

Instructor: Get ready... Get ready...

Soldiers (waiting below): Jump! Jump!

Reporter: We wanted to, and we succeeded, Colonel.

Commander: Your ground training is over. Now you'll get into the aircraft and make the jump.

Run to the helicopter. Run!

Voice of reporter: Today was the most stressful day of my life.

Meanwhile, the encouragement only made my fears grow.

Reporter: How high up are we?

Soldier: 800 meters.

Voice of reporter: How difficult those moments were.

Soldier: I've jumped 26 times already. There won't be any problem.

Reporter parachutes from the helicopter, and is pulled by his parachute on the ground

Instructor: Run! Lie down! Lie down! That's it.

Instructor: You did just one jump – but it was a good one.

Haghshenash: Do you know where you are now?

Soldiers: Yes.

Haghshenash : You know there are no ranks or positions here?

Soldiers: Yes.

Do you know in whose footsteps you are following?

Soldiers: Yes.

Haghshenash : How old are you?

Soldier: I'm 32.

Another soldier: I'm 23.

Haghshenash : Where are you from?

Another soldier: From Esfahan.

Reporter: From Tehran.

Haghshenash : How old are you?

Another soldiers: I'm 33.

Haghshenash : Why have you joined the army?

Soldier: To defend my homeland.

Haghshenash : You have a good body.

[...]

Voice of reporter: We began the commando training under supervision of the master, Haghshenash. One could call Haghshenash the father of the Iranian commando.

Haghshenash: Make an effort!

Voice of reporter: The self-defense training was just the beginning, but the beginning of the commando training became the end for me...

Instructor: Come forward!

Reporter: Alright, alright.

Instructor: Come forward! Come on!

Reporter: Arrhhhh!

Reporter gets knocked to the ground by the instructor

Ow! I broke my leg, I broke my leg!

Commander: Everybody here has broken something a couple of times. We welcome you for joining us.

Ambulance leaves the scene, with the reporter on board

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