[narrator] fourteen celebrities have enlisted
In real military training
In one of the toughest environments.
-[gasp] -[narrator] no prizes, no special treatment.
This is special forces: World's toughest test.
-Wooh! -[nick] this is so badass.
-[narrator] so far on the course... -[grunts]
-[narrator] ...Recruits have been pushed... -[billy] stop [bleep] around!
-[narrator] ...To the extreme. -[billy] get on with it!
[narrator] now, seven recruits remain.
-[retching] -[grunts]
-[narrator] who will survive the day? -[grunts]
My heart rate just won't go down.
I nearly vw'd when they were beasting us.
It crossed my mind for the first time.
[jojo] make sure canteens are full this morning.
We're almost to the end, but don't get sloppy.
[narrator] recruits have made it to day six of selection.
[nick] breakfast is up.
Yes, sir. Let's do this [bleep]!
[jack] I don't know if my watch is inaccurate.
[narrator] but after a tough night, number 1,
Tv personality jack osbourne, is struggling.
Yeah, like, my heart right now is 104.
-[bode] it's 104? -[jack] yeah.
-[bode] just hanging around? - Just hanging around, dude.
Like, I checked it through the night.
The lowest it got was [bleep] 89.
[bode] have them check it out and get some idea.
-Morning, 1. Okay? -[jack] morning, staff.
You look like a bag of [bleep]. What's the matter?
-My heart rate won't go down. -Well, go... To the doc.
Get checked out. Make sure everything's in order.
-Thank you, staff. -[billy] get away.
[jack] having a multiple sclerosis diagnosis at 26
Was, like, a huge "why me?"
-[knock on door] -come in.
High stress can cause a flare up.
-So how can I help? -My heart rate won't go down,
And I'm just, like, red-lining, always.
Okay. Should we have a look at you?
[dr raj] take some big breaths in and out through your mouth.
[inhales and exhales]
[dr raj] your heart is going almost twice as fast
As what you normally run.
[narrator] the medic wants to keep number 1 under observation.
With your history, we must take it seriously.
[bleep]
[billy] get on parade!
The numbers are getting few.
We're now literally entering into a survival phase.
In our world, we end up in situations you never wanna be in.
You are literally fighting to live.
-[bird song] -[billy] fighting to win.
Fighting to go another day.
Bear that in mind as you sprint out.
Go!
[narrator] the recruits are moving out...
[q] hurry up. Get in vehicles. Let's go. Move.
[narrator] ...To face the first exercise
Of the survival phase.
-[tyler] -[jojo]
Oh, [bleep].
[rudy] all right, on me. Keep it tight!
[billy] right in front of me.
[jojo] that's so scary.
In our world, everything we do
Is surrounded by danger.
Getting to and from the battlefield,
Things do go wrong. And in fact,
Foxy himself has been in two helicopter crashes.
If you should end up in a helicopter crash,
-We have a drill. -[rudy] eyes on, recruits,
-[door shuts] -[seatbelt clicks]
[rudy] look forward, 3.
This environment is dangerous,
So you better switch on.
[narrator] in this survival drill,
The recruits will be plunged into the icy-cold water.
[billy] at the point that you deem necessary,
Take a deep breath and hold it.
[inhales]
[narrator] once submerged, they must stay in the seat for 15 seconds.
[foxy] the heli-dunk is the ultimate test
Of controlling fear.
You can feel
The temperature biting through to the bones.
You can feel yourself freezing.
[narrator] recruits will get a signal from ds foxy
To unbuckle the safety belt and leave their seat.
Then they must retrieve a life jacket
Before swimming to the surface.
[foxy] you have to be able to stay calm to save your life.
Ds q okay.
[billy] it's cold in there. A bit of shock factor.
-Is anybody worried? -Yes, staff
-[billy] petrified? -Yes, staff.
I would be, I'll be honest.
If you exit before you are touched on the shoulder
Or before you grab that life jacket,
-You will fail. Clear? -[all] yes, staff.
Do. Not. Get it wrong.
If you get it wrong, the consequences are obvious.
Go.
-[jojo] anyone else get [bleep]? [tom] yes.
[erin] I can't hold my breath as long.
You have to dig. It's gonna hurt a bit. Get uncomfortable.
But believe, believe, believe, believe.
Six, fall in on ds billy.
[narrator] first up is number 6,
Olympic speed skater erin jackson.
[billy] your chariot awaits.
Take your seat. Put your seatbelt on.
-Take the belt. How do you feel? -[seatbelt clicks]
[sighs] some nervous excitement.
Get serious on this, okay? The water is very cold.
Medical team's all there should there be a problem.
If it goes wrong, don't panic.
[narrator] ds billy and the safety team
Will monitor closely from the shoreside.
[metal cracks]
To be the first black woman to win an individual gold medal
In the winter olympics, I had to control my emotions.
[rope crackles]
[erin] I hope during selection I'll be able to control
The same emotions, but I'm a very weak swimmer.
[billy] courageous little thing to get in,
Not being a swimmer.
Drowning is probably something that I'm most scared of.
[mechanical crackles]
[inhales]
[narrator] number 4 must now wait 15 seconds for the signal.
[metal crackles]
-[panicked muffled sound] -[billy] oh, my god.
She took in water. She's panicking. She's panicking.
Calm down!
[billy] calm down!
[narrator] seconds into the helicopter survival drill,
Number 6, erin jackson, is in trouble.
Calm down!
[billy]
She's panicking. She's panicking.
[narrator] she exits without retrieving the life jacket...
[panicked muffled sounds]
-[narrator] ...Failing the task. -[whimpers]
[billy] calm down.
-[erin pants] -calm down. Six, look at me.
You're okay.
[pants]
[narrator] the ds send in the safety team
To help number 6 to shore.
-Yeah. -[tyler]
In our job, if you panic, you can get yourself and others killed.
-Right? -Yes.
Terrible, okay?
-Big fail. -[erin] mhm.
[q] get out of here.
-All right? -[erin sighs]
I panicked. Just, like, feeling
I might struggle, not be able to get the seatbelt off.
-[bode] get trapped? -Yeah.
But you're still here, still alive and you went for it.
[narrator] with the high risk nature of the drill now clear,
Five more recruits prepare to take the plunge.
[metal crackles]
[billy] in you get.
Okay, put on your seatbelt.
-How you feeling? -I don't like water.
First thing will be the cold shock.
Regulate your breath straight away. If it goes wrong,
Don't panic.
Allow the water to rise to about this position here.
Then, take your last breath and hold it
Until you feel a hand on your shoulder.
At that moment, down to your buckles, release.
Look over your right shoulder. That is a life jacket.
-You must retrieve that. Happy? -Yes, staff.
-You worried? -Yeah, a little bit.
Probably should be. Stop shaking. Don't get this wrong.
Seriously, do not get this wrong.
[metallic clink]
[exhales heavily]
The things that have made me rich and famous
Are the same that have made me feel hollow.
-[billy] hey! -[tyler] people think I'm just a sex symbol.
I hope selection shows I'm much more than all that.
[exhales] there's a lot
At stake here, emotionally and mentally for me.
[exhales]
I recently found out that I'm gonna be a dad,
Which is incredible. If you're gonna be a parent,
You have to step up.
[billy]
[metal crackles]
I lost my daughter to a drowning accident.
So I think my fear almost directly
Correlates with danger.
Fear is a choice. Danger is real.
[inhales]
[q] as soon as they hit that water,
Their body's going to go into a shock.
[exhales and inhales]
That cold hits them.
So your mind starts to panic.
Your body is looking for air.
They have to prove that they can follow instruction
And get the mission done.
-Four is good, -pass.
-Twelve okay. -[billy] well done. Pass.
-Five okay. -Get out of the water.
The biggest key to success here is
You gotta show bravado. You gotta show strength and courage.
[q] stop right there. Stop right there.
-How do you think you did? -I did well, staff.
-You passed. Good job. -Thank you.
[q] get out of here.
-Good? -[tyler] trust me, you got it.
This is all right here. This is all it is.
[wind blows loudly]
-[tom] your guys' toes cold? -Freezing.
-Yeah. -Real cold, yeah.
-[tom] -in tap dance,
A shuffle. You go shuffle. That will warm your foot up.
-[rudy] number 3, eyes on. -Shuffle, toe-heel, shuffle, toe-heel
Toe-heel, shuffle, shuffle toe-heel...
-[rudy] number 3. You need to take this [bleep] seriously!
We're too late in the course for you
To go on a mental vacation, all right?
Life and limb is at stake out here in this freaking water.
Thinking about being in open water terrifies me.
-Let's go, number 3. -[rudy] let's go, problem child.
But being a performer and an entertainer,
When I'm anxious, I can put a front.
Okay, you're in, locked in tight.
What are you laughing at?
-Make sure you get this right. -Yes, staff.
Medical team are ready. Water team are ready.
-I don't want to need medics. -I'm just warning you.
I come across as confident.
-[crackling sound] -but deep down,
I'm a shy, insecure little bug.
-[billy] do not mess this up. -No, staff.
And my mom always says, "but you're jojo siwa."
And I'm like, but I'm not.
[rope crackles]
[billy] ooh, she's getting worried now.
[inhales]
[billy]
[billy] oh, god.
[narrator] in a task reliant on the recruits
Holding their breath under water...
[billy]
-[narrator] ...Number 3, jojo siwa,
Is already struggling for air.
I know I'm going to be faced with a choice
Every day: Quit or keep going.
But I will do whatever it takes to complete this.
[narrator] she's got the signal to unbuckle.
Now she must retrieve the life jacket,
Then race to the surface.
-[mumbles] three... -[billy] say again?
-Three okay. [coughs] -[billy] all right.
Calm down. Number 3, that is a pass.
-[tyler] let's go. -[jojo] you'll get wet.
I don't care. Get in here. Good job. Let's go.
-[tyler] proud of you.
When you come up, you feel like a badass.
And you feel cool as [bleep] when that's done.
-[billy] she was unprepared. -Didn't get that breath in.
[billy] yeah. She was definitely scared,
-But she'd passed. -Yes. She lived another day.
Okay, guys, get your bergens on. Yes. Let's go.
[foxy] people can struggle on the course
Because of immaturity.
-[jojo] good effort, boys. -[bode grunts]
[foxy] I joined the military at 16 years old.
Go, go, go!
But I soon learned that I needed to grow up.
[erin] I was worried I wouldn't attempt that one.
-But you did. -I did.
-[jojo] water is scary. -Mhm.
Just being here has made me think about, like,
The important things in life.
I'm supposed to have recording sessions when I get home,
And I kinda wanna cancel them to go surprise my mom.
That'd be cool.
-Yeah. -[jojo] the pressure of being jojo siwa
Is to keep staying myself.
I don't know what it's like to not live a life like this,
But some personal happiness has to be given up.
Just telling myself I'm in a video game has been helping.
We're in the home stretch.
Yeah.
[narrator] whilst the other recruits were on exercise...
Number 1, jack osbourne,
Has been under medical supervision.
[dr raj] his heart shouldn't be going that fast.
He's got a history of heart valve issues, so...
He could keel over and die
If there's something underneath going on with him.
For your safety, I'll have to medically withdraw you
From this course.
If anything happened out there, last thing we want is
You suddenly keeling over.
[bleep]
It's out of your hands. Okay?
-You have to listen to advice. -Correct.
-I'll take your number. -[narrator] after six days,
Jack osbourne is leaving selection.
I'm out. They're med-dropping me.
[tom] damn, dude.
[jojo] get in here.
-[jojo] can I take your beanie? -Yeah.
[jojo] we're gonna miss you. -[jack] I'm bummed.
-Enjoy seeing your kids. -Well, and don't [bleep] quit.
Be in touch.
[narrator] now only six recruits remain.
Jack crushed it.
[tyler] yeah, he made it far.
He was an incredible asset to this team.
He was.
-[q] oh, we got one down. -[rudy chuckles]
[narrator]the ds have gathered to discuss
The recruits' performance in the survival drill.
The standouts were
Number 5, 9. Number 12,
-Very composed. -[billy] he looked worried.
-He didn't act worried. -[rudy] I really think that he's made an improvement.
You know, we had high hopes for number 3.
I think she's got a lot of potential. Um...
I think she hides when she's nervous or scared.
-With her smile and laughing, -she took it as a bit of a game,
More than anything. I've said it before.
[rudy] I think we should talk to number 3,
See what she's really about.
[rudy] number 3!
-[jojo] I hear yelling. -Recruit number 3.
Right over here, 3.
[narrator] number 3, jojo siwa,
Is being called in for tactical questioning.
[door slides open]
[q] we wanted to talk to you about some things again.
That side of you:
Of... Jumping around, bouncing around,
Giggly, goofy, or whatever...
From what I've been seeing, it's still been the same.
It's been harder for me than I thought it would be.
Why?
Very hard on myself. I judge myself at everything.
I am a very insecure person. Very insecure person.
Where's this lack of confidence come from?
Growing up in front of the internet,
It's... It's the hardest thing.
Everything gets judged.
People told me I have a receding hairline.
They don't know that I have a stress rash
And that's why I'm balding right here.
The twelve-year-old shouldn't have a stress rash.
That makes them bald. But I did.
When I'm home, I've tended to be a loner.
Like, I like to do things alone. I like to have my solitude time.
Because the reality is it's hard for me to go places.
It's not always fun for for me to go places. It's...
Work, you know?
[foxy] we're seeing a lot of potential in you.
This is your opportunity to show you're made of sterner stuff.
[q] to get to the next phase of training,
It's going to take something else in you.
You are going to have to find a way to tap into
More of an attitude, aggressive personality.
If you don't, you won't pass this course.
-[foxy] guard. -[door slides open]
[jojo] in my industry you can't be vulnerable.
There you have to be, you know, on.
You have to be hard, be hardcore, business.
And that's something that I've struggled with
Jojo?
Hardass. Hardshell. Can't break her down.
[jojo] thank you, staff.
Joelle? The most vulnerable person you'll ever meet.
[jojo] very emotional.
[sniffles]
But... I just need to, like, get it out.
Cry, be sad,
Then get over it. [sighs]
-On we go.
[tyler coughs]
[jojo] [sniffles] I miss my family.
[jojo]
[tyler]
[jojo]
Recruit. Let's roll.
[rudy]
[narrator] halfway into this phase of selection
And the pressure is ramping up.
[rudy] come on, 5. Right out here.
[narrator] recruits will now face a task designed to test
Their will to fight for survival.
[rudy] in the special forces, we're all warriors.
The warrior mindset we cultivate gives us the edge
In combat.
Whatever is behind this gate, switch on your aggression
And overpower it.
Then on our command, you need to switch it off.
You think about what you'll fight to the death for.
Those dreams you have. That family you have.
Those hopes about yourself.
Think about what you fight to get back to.
[narrator] the recruits have no idea
That waiting for them on the other side of the gates
Is the redman, ds q.
If you can't survive the fight, then it's over.
-You understand? -[all] yes, staff.
[rudy] in our world, we need to go from being calm
To completely in the red in the snap of a finger.
All right, 4. Focused?
-Run. Head down. Head down. -On your knees.
Down here. Down here. Head up. Kneel up. Kneel up.
Right, I need you
To find ultra-aggression.
Anything in red is fair game,
Apart from no headshots. Is that understood?
-Yes, staff. -Let's go.
[tom] I'm here to push myself
Mentally, physically, emotionally to the limits.
Go in there!
-[billy] hit him! Hit him! -Four, start doing something!
-[billy] knee him. -Putting everything aside
That's on the outside world, and better myself.
Kick him. Punch him. Get your elbows in.
[tom grunts]
-You trying to bone him? -[grunts]
-[foxy] right, stop. -[pants]
-You're all right? -Yes, staff.
[billy] -no, staff.
Go up to foxy. Pathetic.
[narrator] with number 4, tom, failing to summon
-Enough aggression... -My hands are cold now.
[narrator] ...Now five more recruits
Have their chance to take on the ds.
Good to go? Head down.
Dig deep and engage with that aggressive enemy.
-Yes, staff. -Let's go.
Go on in. Head down, head down.
[jojo] I have my walls around me, but...
-Go. - ...I won't give up
Until I physically cannot.
[billy] get into him! Get into him!
-Get him, punch him! -[foxy] punch him. Come on, 12.
[grunts]
Get him down! -[nick] being here, there's a part of me
That wants to test my ability to protect my family.
-[foxy] there we go! Keep going! -[grunts]
- [foxy] nine, take him down.
The reason for doing this selection is my kids.
-[foxy] drop him, 9. -[billy] get up there, 9.
To be able to show some perseverance,
I think that's a really important thing.
[erin] I block off the emotions that
Aren't going to help me achieve what I need to achieve.
-[foxy] come on, number 6.
I can be aggressive when I need to be. [chuckles]
[billy] get in there! -[foxy] now finish him off.
Right. Stop.
[foxy] stop. Come here.
Decompress. What was going through your mind?
-I've never redlined on someone else.
-It scared the [bleep] out of me.
And what did you want to do to him?
[sneers]
-Wanted to kill him. -[nick] I wanna be there
To raise my child. [pants]
I'd destroy anything that came in my way of that.
-[nick pants] -okay, well done. Good effort.
Over you go. Sprint to the gate.
[rudy] five. On me.
[narrator] the last recruit to fight the redman
Is number 5, tv personality tyler cameron.
Number 5, down to your knees.
Not like me. I'm not the pope. Kneel up. Right.
I need you to dig deep and find
Aggression. When I say stop,
-Turn it off immediately. Understood? -Yes, staff.
Right, head down. Let's go.
-Go on then. -[tyler] we all have
An inner beast in us.
[grunts heavily]
[billy] get in there! Take him out.
-[both grunt] -get him.
[foxy]
Once in that fight or flight mode,
You'd do whatever it takes to survive.
-[foxy] get up on top. -[billy] get him down.
-Punch him! -[foxy] come on, number 5!
-Elbow him! -[grunts]
No head shots. Stop 5.
[foxy screaming]
-[foxy] no headshots. [narrator] in a brutal test
Of turning aggression on and off... -[grunts]
-[narrator] number 5, tyler cameron,
-Has let rip. -[grunts]
-[foxy] stop. Stop! -Stop!
Come over here, number 5. Come on, let's go.
-Yes, staff. -Calm right down now.
What was going through your head?
It was either me or him.
-[foxy] all right? - [q] he got me a few times.
-[foxy] where? -[q] in the head.
-Go now, go and stand by the gate there.
[foxy] what you just went through is a very small taste
Of what we get up to.
Anger on its own on the battlefield
In very unhelpful. That's why we're getting you
To understand how you need to turn it off in an instant.
-Is that understood? -[all] yes, staff.
[foxy] off you go. -[foxy] I've been on operations
In scary, uncomfortable positions, and
You can't afford to allow anger
To get in the way of your judgment.
He's like, "what were you thinking?"
-It's me or him. -[tom] I got him down.
-I was like, he's down. Done. -Yeah.
For me, I just internalize everything and...
Sometimes it does, it comes out and explodes and it's not good.
Number 5!
[narrator] number 5's full on assault in the redman task
Has put him on the ds radar.
[billy] feet there. Hands against the wall.
[narrator] they are calling him in for tactical questioning.
[door slides shut]
Today,
The redman, applying loads of aggression...
That's good. We like that.
But there was no turning it off.
I think I lost a little bit of discipline.
We want to see people highlight themselves in a good way.
Yes, staff.
What's your main reason for being here?
You know, I feel like I kind of lost myself a little bit.
My world changed with tv and, you know,
Everything gets handed to you. And you get caught up in the bs.
It took me a while to realize that, kind of get back to
What was important.
-And then what? -[tyler] um...
And then, uh...
Do that. And then my mom passed away. 2020.
February 2020.
So that was, uh...
You know, that was definitely the biggest,
Toughest thing I ever went through.
She was always the rock, you know.
That'll hit you.
It was one of those things where
You're in a house with all your brothers,
I was, like, the leader of the house.
You gotta put a smile on so they can put a smile on.
-[foxy] how many you got? -Two little brothers.
You took on the role as leader. You think you've dealt with it?
I think I've...
Come to terms with it.
But, you know, I have my signs.
Like, when I see a butterfly, I would say hello.
But, um...
I just say, we have a saying, "make mama proud."
That's all we can do.
I see that you are trying to do this for deeper reasons.
Yeah.
If you feel like you are in a position to start
Leading in there, start pushing yourself.
Start being that presence. Not just the big guy,
But someone that people can lean on.
I got it, yes, staff.
The only person that can truly find out
-What your limits are, are you. -[tyler] mhm.
-Guard. -[door slides open]
-[billy] stand still. -[door slides shut]
[foxy] he's cut up about his mum isn't he?
Yeah, you can tell he's close to mom.
He's about to break down right now.
My mom, she was the glue.
And ever since we lost her, I've been doing everything I can
To try and fill that void.
Just talking about [bleep] that's hard to talk about.
I lost a support system and someone I talked through
A lot of things with, and now
I find myself a little lost at times.
-Good stuff, though? -Had to talk about my mom
-[bode] yeah? -And stuff, you know.
[narrator] it's been a long day for the recruits,
But it's not over yet.
Let's go. Everybody up. Make a move.
If you go on deployment as a special forces operator,
You know you're going to possibly get killed.
Think about that. Y'all want to know what it's like to be us?
This is what it is.
If you go on deployment as a special forces operator,
You know you're going to possibly get killed.
[narrator] the survival phase is almost done.
But recruits now face
A brutal reality of the special forces.
Y'all want to know what it's like to be us?
This is what it is.
Tonight, you're writing what we call a death letter
To your loved ones, as if you're not coming home.
What would you want to say to your mom, your dad, friends?
It's hard to think about.
It is, but you got to think about it.
You're going to write this, and you're going to read them
To each other.
Get to it.
As a special forces operator, you are only too aware
Of the fragility of your life.
It's always on your mind that you could die,
And that is it.
[nick] any volunteers for first?
[jojo] I can go first.
Just giving you a warning. I'm gonna cry.
"mom. There's not a word to describe
How grateful I am for your guidance and push
Throughout my life. Dad. The fun, wild parent.
You have pulled me out of dark times without even knowing.
[tearful] I love you forever, more than you could imagine."
Well done, jojo.
Thank you. [sniffles]
[clears throat]
"dad. Everything I have achieved is a testament
To how amazing of a dad you are. I could never thank you enough."
[sniffles, sighs]
"mom. Sometimes it is still hard to believe you're gone.
[sniffles] um...
"dad and I miss you every day. I'd give anything to see you,
Hug you and tell you I love you once more."
[foxy] it takes lots to be in the special forces.
It isn't necessarily the biggest,
The fastest, or the strongest.
It's about psychological robustness.
"mom,
Thank you for always accepting me for who I am.
So much of, um... [clears throat]
So much of who I am
Is because of you.
The, um... Amazing example
You always set. Tom."
[sniffles] you guys got me all worked up.
"to my fiancée, natalie. Having you by my side
Always gave me the courage that I could face
Any challenge because I had you.
I'm so sorry I won't be there. [sobs]
I'm so sorry I won't be
With you to raise our baby together.
You're the greatest love of my life.
Nick."
All right. [sniffles]
"the kids...
[exhales heavily]
"you are the coolest, most exciting,
Most fun little humans I could have had in my life.
I love you. I'm proud to be your dad."
[sniffles] and then just, "emmy,
[breathes shakily]
"I've missed you so much.
I'm coming to see you. Love, dad."
[sobbing]
So tough.
[sighs] "dear austin,
I'm proud of you, but I know who's the most proud.
Take your time.
[sniffles]
"I'm proud of you, but I know
Who's the most proud, and that's mom.
[sniffles, sighs]
Love you, tyler."
Damn, tyler.
I haven't cried like that in a long time.
Some of the things we put them through
On this course may seem absolutely brutal,
But there is a reason for it.
War is relentless. It's obviously physical,
But I'd say 70% of it is mental.
It's six strangers, you know,
And I'm opening up to y'all more than to anyone at home.
[bode] it's so intense how much that takes out of you.
[jojo] humans are vulnerable.
It's like it's going to get much harder psychologically.
[bode] I think that's us six starting the final phase.
Guys, let's [bleep] do this.
[narrator] next time.
-Let's go olympian!
-We're not playing at this.
[billy] move your feet and go!
-Let's go!
-We're in the final phases of selection.
[q] dig, dig, number 4.
-This is where we turn it up.
-Get out of the vehicle! Come on, get out!
-You guys are on the run.
-Now, it's all about survival.
-Where is he gone? -I don't know.
-Down, down, tyler. -Get on your knees! Face down!
Subtitles: Alicja tokarska plint.Com