Ann Wang and Ben Blanchard

ZUOYING (Taiwan) – A cold wind blows across Taiwan Strait. In the wee hours of the morning, a group of Taiwanese Marines sits on a distant dock, their thin jackets and shorts soaked from a long day at sea.

Is your sleeping beauty the best? Do you skip class? A trainer shouts at the men who are tired and have not slept for days as they perform sit-ups on the concrete floor.

They are brought to their senses by cold water blasts from the hose.

The entry into Taiwan’s Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol (or ARP) elite unit, which is Taiwan’s answer to the U.S. Navy’s SEALs and Britain’s Special Boat Service isn’t for the weak of heart.

(Open https://reut.rs/3fjJ2d7 to see a picture package on recruiting for Taiwan’s elite navy unit)

ARP Frogmen might find themselves in small boats, under night cover, crossing the Strait to survey enemy areas and make attacks in the case of war against China. China claims Taiwan as its democratic island and has increased its political and military pressure on Taiwan.

Only 15 of the 31 students who began the 10-week course completed it. The closing week in the Zuoying naval base, southern Taiwan, was the final test. Reuters had rare access to the site.

Fu Yu (30) said, “I am not afraid of death.” After completing the “road towards heaven”, Fu Yu stated that they were satisfied with their final obstacle course. It consisted of 100m of rock obstacles over which they had to crawl on their stomachs and perform push-ups.

Fu added, having previously attempted and failed the course, that “It’s soldier’s responsibility. What we must do.”

The ARP volunteers must endure six days of hard work and five nights to complete the course. They will be required to walk long distances, swim for hours, and listen to their instructors shout.

Their time spent at the beach or in pools is a large part of their lives. They learn how to hold their breathe for long periods, swim in combat gear, and invade beaches.

They have one hour breaks every six hours. They have to eat, which means they must take a break from eating.

The two may end up sleeping for five minutes, but they will be huddled on the ground under green blankets and awakened with loud whistle blasts.

This is to instill an unwavering loyalty and determination among soldiers and their fellow soldiers.

All the candidates were volunteers and joined the Special Forces out of patriotism as well as a drive to challenge their own limits.

Wu Yu-wei 26, stated that the challenge of completing the course was a “personal challenge”.

He said that the hardest thing was timing. There were only fifteen minutes for the bathroom, and then it was time to take a sip of water before we moved on to the next section.

It is exhausting the first few days, but then it becomes easier. You must rely on your willpower, determination, and perseverance.

The Marine Corps commander Wang Juilin once they have crossed the finish line for “road to Heaven”, some of the Marine Corps personnel were congratulated. But the strain of the last week was too much and the Marine Corps crew members broke down in tears when the family invited them to graduate.

All the trainers are graduates from the same program. They say that the goal of the week-long hell isn’t cruelty. It is to create the conditions of war like severe sleep deprivation to test who can handle it.

“Of course we won’t force anyone. Everyone is here freely. Chen Shou Lih, 26, said: “That’s why our treatment is so harsh and they must be eliminated strictly.” We won’t let you go just because you want to.”