Travel

Training Day

Five Ways to Go Full Special Forces

Now, we’re not saying you need to be worried about the Russians... but it never hurts to be prepared. So, below: five ways you’d train if you were trying to become Special Forces. You might want to pack a parachute.

SKY FALL

Jumping Out of Jets Like It’s 1942

Your Mission: Complete a 10-day paratrooper program that’s been modeled after the one used during World War II. The final exam: jumping out of a vintage C-47. Yes, it’s pass-fail.
Degree of Difficulty: Low. As long as you don’t look down.

DRILL BIT

The Worst Way to Spend a Weekend

Your Mission: Survive 48 hours’ worth of modified US Special Forces training. Expect to carry logs, crawl through sand and be verbally assaulted by a commanding officer who’s actively trying to make you quit (seriously).
Degree of Difficulty: The average passing rate is under 10%, so...

FLIGHT CLUB

Learning How to Fight. With Planes.

Your Mission: Spend a day pulling G’s, simulating dogfights and wearing oversize aviators while piloting two-seat German monoplanes.
Degree of Difficulty: Depends how many times you’ve seen Top Gun.

DESCENDING ORDER

Spitting in the Face of Gravity

Your Mission: Follow a former SWAT member (with over 20 years’ experience) off a roof, down the side of a multistory building and into a window. Helpful in a hostage situation. Or when you lose your house keys.
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate. Rope burn is a serious matter.

SNIPER ACTIVE

These Are the Sharpshooting Basics

Your Mission: Spend a workweek out in the wilderness while some guys with really good aim teach you how to “achieve first-round hits from a cold barrel onto high-value targets.” Pretty sure they’re talking about empty beer cans.
Degree of Difficulty: The parts where you’re lying down: easy. Everything else: not so much.