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