FRIDAY FOTO Extra (Sept. 20, 2013)

Commando School, French Style

Photo by R. Connan, copyright French Defense Ministry

During their initial training, cadets from France’s elite  Saint-Cyr Special Military School undergo a four-week training session at Les Saint-Cyrien au Centre national d’entrainement commando (CNEC) — National Commando Training Centre. There they can earn the designation “monitor commando.”

Training ranges from alpine climbing and rapeling to martial arts and aquatic skills as we see here. After jumping from a motorboat going full speed, these cadets have to swim to zodiac boats and clamber aboard.

To see a slide show of all the tricks of the trade that must be mastered, click here on the French Defense Ministry website. Caution, it’s all in French.

 

FRIDAY FOTO: September 20, 2013

After the Violence

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Arif Patani

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks to Washington Navy Yard personnel Thursday (Sept. 19), during their first day back to work after the shooting incident that killed 12 workers and the gunman.