A qualification test for servicemen of the Russia's Ministry of the Interior troops took place at the Gorny training range in Novosibirsk Region. The troopers had to prove they are tough enough to wear the maroon beret — the mark of the ministry's elite special forces.
It takes only three demerits to be disqualified during the test.
Despite the fact that the right to wear the beret offers no monetary incentive or other privileges, every year scores of servicemen seek to obtain it.
The test involves a 10km cross-country forced march, an obstacle course, storming a multi-story building, acrobatic and hand-to-hand combat exercises.
The hand-to-hand combat test consists of four stages. The non-stop fight lasts 12 minutes, during which an examinee has to face three consecutive opponents: another applicant like himself and two maroon beret veterans.
Servicemen help and cover each other during the forced march and while navigating the obstacle course.
Troopers must push themselves to the limits in order to succeed.
The applicants must undergo most of the test while wearing about 20kg of equipment.
This year, 76 troopers participated in the examination, and 39 of them earned the right to wear maroon berets.
