In the Army Now
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Bullet trajectories at altitude & mastering the art of lying still – In the Army Now Ep.13
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Surviving an MRLS ‘Grad’ attack – In the Army Now Ep.14
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Operating an APC BTR-82A & frying an egg on armour – In the Army Now Ep.15
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Psychological assault course final – In the Army Now Ep.16
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At army survival school – In the Army Now Ep.17
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Military survival test: Ambushed, shot at, and gassed – In the Army Now Ep.18
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Surviving a freezing night in the woods – In the Army Now Ep.19
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At the Marine assault course in Vladivostok – In the Army Now Ep.20
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Detecting landmines & preparing APCs for the high seas – In the Army Now Ep.21
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Destroying a ‘terrorist stronghold’ with Russian Marines – In the Army Now Ep.22
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Training with Russian Paratroopers on the Black Sea – In The Army Now Ep.23
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Russian mountain division obstacle course – In the Army Now Ep.24
Training with Russian Paratroopers on the Black Sea – In The Army Now Ep.23
Anna and Pavel are in Novorossiysk on the shores of the Black sea where they join one of the most celebrated Russian air assault divisions. They will be training with paratroopers known as the “Blue Berets”. There are many myths surrounding this branch of the military. The army explorers want to know if paratroopers must get a special tattoo and whether they swim in fountains on Paratrooper Day. They also find it hard to believe that it’s possible to parachute out of a plane inside an armoured assault vehicle. Will any of these myths check out?
Related: The only singing and dancing military unit of the Russian army
The new recruits are given paratrooper uniforms, including their signature blue and white striped vests. One thing their outfits are missing is a blue beret. To earn it, a serviceman has to complete a parachute jump. Their commanders have dozens, even hundreds of jumps under their belts, but new paratroopers need to undergo extensive training before they are let loose with a parachute.
Related: A series about Russian tanks and the people who make them
Being a paratrooper is not all about parachute jumps, there are many other crucial skills Anna and Pavel have to learn. They start with mastering firearms. From a sniper rifle, to an anti-tank rocket launcher, to a tank itself – they give everything a go. To their surprise, however, training begins with a shooting simulator where they use life-size model weapons seek out the enemy on a giant monitor. Combining business and pleasure, they get to play a videogame while learning to protect their homeland.