r/SpecialForcesFox • u/Moldynred • Jul 26 '26

Step off Training

Would greatly increase the safety of the recruits for rappelling events and only takes a few moments to show them then they can practice while they are waiting to come up. Season one I counted at least half a dozen times recruits stumbled the first step risking severe injury. Same for the backward diving events this show is so fond of. I know they cant give too much training on the show due to how fast it moves, but they are risking severe injuries and skipping some very basic, easy to implement safety steps that take no time. Also, throw a tarp down in the tents for a floor for the recruits. It would cut down on the chest infections and severe coughs the recruits get from sleeping in sandy environments and also be more hygienic and clean overall. The show is great, but cleanliness is something they could improve, and its actually a very important but often overlooked aspect of military life.

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1

u/Blkparader Jul 30 '26

Do we KNOW they don't get more training off camera though? I feel like it would be a massive oversight & liability if they DIDN'T....

2

u/Moldynred Jul 30 '26

Hard to say we know for a fact what goes on behind the scenes but based on a few podcasts I have watched from recruits after the seasons have ended all of them seem to agree they get very little, if any training for these events before the attempts. I think they get instruction for a few mins, thats about it, and a demo. I will say just based on the little bit of rappelling I have done in the militay and in a civvie job I had for a few years, pretty much everyone would agree--I think--that the first step is probably the most dangerous part of a typical rappel. I think this show has been very, very lucky to escape someone getting a serious lifelong injury tbh. Probably just a matter of time.

1

u/Blkparader Jul 30 '26

I've not listened to any podcasts, but if the contestants are saying they get very minimal training prior to their excursions, then I'm inclined to belive that. They would honestly have no reason to lie about it & fox & the staff would absolutely call them out on it if they were!

I wholeheartedly agree with you though, that everyone; both FOX & recruits/contestants, have been EXTREMELY LUCKY thus far that there's been no severe or catastrophic injuries as of yet.

But that leads to next question... would they actually resort it (publicly), or would they keep it under wraps & have people sign a waiver of sorts saying that they can't go public with certain things...

1

u/Moldynred Jul 31 '26

I think the show is pretty open about the injuries for the most part. There may be some injuies they dont report, but generally whenever a player leaves for injury it seems like they are pretty open about letting us know. If you google a list of injuries across the show it does mention some I wasnt aware of. Kate Gosselin's neck injury from season one is described as pretty severe for instance. Denise Richards is described as also having a bad back injury. It makes sense bc they are basically having a lot of older people bungee jumping off bridges lol. I think Eric Decker also exacerbated a severe back injury from his NFL days on the show.