Strict Standards to Become a "Frogman" Commando in Vietnam

04 Februari 2022

Frogman training of the Vietnam People's Army (all photos : Kien Thuc)

Vietnamese special forces are one of the most skilled special forces in the world, to become a commando soldier must practice very hard.

The Special Forces are the elite special combat forces of the Vietnam People's Army, directly managed and directed by the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army.

The Special Forces Army has the task of focusing on researching and advising the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to build and develop Special Forces forces in the direction of lean - compact - high quality.

This is an elite special force, soldiers are organized, equipped and specially trained, have flexible, daring and unexpected combat methods, often used to make surprise attacks on dangerous targets. Weakness lies deep in the battle formation, campaign arrangement and rear of the enemy.

To become a true frogman commando, soldiers have to go through extremely strict standards. The height of the frogman's commando is not less than 1.65m; body weight not less than 52kg; The weakest hand squeeze force is not less than 35kg; traction not less than 200% of body weight.

To be able to be a clone commando, the "candidate" must also meet the physiological function standards of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, eyes, digestive system, etc. And to become a real clone commando soldier, the training takes 2 years.

The most basic skills of a clone commando must have. Swim silently at least 10km continuously, dive up to 1,000m, withstand the waves very well to be able to dive deeply and fly by plane or submarine.

Vietnamese frogmen also have to know how to master the use of heavy weapons to attack when a foreign country invades territorial waters, in the most difficult situation can camouflage in just 1-2 minutes.

To be able to swim continuously from 12-15km in the sea, the soldiers have to spend a lot of effort training both physically and mentally. Officers at all levels regularly follow up, practice together, dive together, swim together with soldiers.

Soldiers must participate in practical training day and night, techniques to overcome currents, avoid sea creatures and practice methods of handling scratches to prevent bleeding to attract dangerous animals to follow.

All of these skills must be mastered and handled independently to ensure safety, to complete tasks accurately and efficiently, in the shortest time.

The harshest part of the training course is "forcing imitation". Soldiers are put into a chamber to increase and decrease pressure, adjust the pressure to equal sea pressure at the corresponding depth.

This procedure is strictly followed to train the soldiers' endurance when diving at different depths. This is also the most difficult stage to select the clones that meet the mission requirements.

In the chamber to increase and decrease the pressure, the pressure will make the chest feel like it is about to burst, causing shortness of breath and extreme discomfort. But as a frog, it is necessary to go through this stage to be able to dive at a depth of tens of meters, otherwise you will die at any time when performing a mission at sea.

(Kien Thuc)