The Selection: Special Operations Experiment

- Season 1

(2016)

30 civilians begin the most intense physical and mental challenge of their life as they begin The Selection, led by six Special Operations veterans. Unrelenting physical training, interrogations, and tear gas exposure introduce these civilians to what lies ahead. Many will quit before day one comes to an end.

After only two hours of sleep, the instructors lead a grueling day of Navy SEAL training in the Pacific Ocean, where exercises in surf immersion, land portage, and extreme exposure to the cold push the participants to the edge.

The instructors send the remaining 15 participants to rescue a downed pilot, an exercise designed to test the group's teamwork as well as the leadership of a select few; instructor Haggerty leads the team on an unbelievable physical feat.

In a stealth and concealment exercise, the participants go out on the ultimate game of hide and seek, where they are tasked with camouflaging themselves in a hide site to evade detection by the instructors.

Instructor Bowen leads the group in a class on hand-to-hand combat before the candidates face off against each other. The group is led to a swimming pool for drown proofing training.

The remaining candidates go on a forced "ruck" march with 50 pounds on their backs; a poor performance by one candidate attracts special attention, while another candidate reaches his mental breaking point.

Instructor Care leads the participants through an exercise he calls "integrity stations"; after one candidate fails to complete the course, Care must determine whether or not to let this individual continue.

Facing the biggest challenge of their lives, the candidates must complete a field training exercise, during which everything they have learned will be used in order to pass the different stages, and only those who finish will pass "The Selection."