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Special Forces Candidates Overcome 'Obstacles' to Become Ultimate Survivors

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CAMP MACKALL — On the CBS show "Survivor," castaways compete in immunity challenges in their quest for a million dollars. For Fort Bragg soldiers, such challenges are anything but a game.

On a recent episode, two island teams competed in an abbreviated Army obstacle course set up by Green Berets.

At Camp MacKall in Richmond County, Special Forces candidates are required to complete the full course on their own -- not as a team.

The one-mile, 30-station course is grueling and takes the average soldier about 40 minutes to finish.

"It takes coordination, flexibility, a lot of endurance and upper body strength. One by itself is challenging enough, put it all together, it's one of the most challenging things you'll ever do," says Maj. Tony Fletcher, company commander.

Once candidates become Special Forces soldiers, they go on to survival school.

Learn how to light a fire without matches and other survival techniques on Wednesday on WRAL's 5:30 News.

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