Why do some military training exercises seem designed to kill or maim soldiers?
In short: Military training aims to simulate combat and non-combat scenarios, but some drills push boundaries so far they appear dangerous. This video explores extreme exercises, from high-stakes confidence drills to historical rituals, questioning the line between effective preparation and unnecessary risk.
Military training is intended to prepare recruits for reality, yet some historical and contemporary practices have raised concerns about safety. The video highlights several intense examples, including Russian counter-terror confidence drills involving live fire, the consumption of cobra blood by Marines, and fire-walking exercises in Belarus.
The video also examines the psychological and physical rigors of elite units, such as the 36-hour interrogation training for the SAS and the demanding Doko challenge for Gurkha recruits. These exercises underscore the extreme lengths military organizations go to test endurance, though the risks are real; for instance, 20 soldiers have died during SAS training in Wales since 1984.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Military Training Exercises that don't make sense
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