TV Reporter Goes Through Military Training of Iranian Commando

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?

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