Frag Out! Magazine

With its background, "The SelecTion" is Poland's oldest event of its kind. When it was started, there was no uniformed selection process in the Polish Armed Forces even for the elite units. however, a few units (56 and 62 SoF coY, disbanded in mid-1990's) have tried to organize informal recruitment tests for non–conscript soldiers, but they were a one day exercises including primarily so-called "tactical loops". GRoM, at that time functioning as a part of the Ministry of internal Affairs, based its selection process on its US experiences, earned and learned during their first training visits in the United States. Within that framework, the Selection has gradually evolved – in 1998 it was organized by "ŻołnieRz PolSki" MAGAzine and had a different form. The candidates for field competition were select- ed among the motivational letters sent to the magazine's editorial board. Decision criteria were based on candidates personal achieve- ments (finished courses, training, competition medals, awards etc.) Since 2002 on, the "The Selection" has been preluded by initial phase, called pre-selection or "preska" in Polish. here, there it makes no difference how many courses and training candidate have fin- ished, neither his age, military rank nor active deployments – at this phase the matter lies in candidate's physical endurance tests results. it is based on circuit training consisting of 9 stations, where for 60 seconds candidates execute simple exercises. The time break of 30 seconds between exercises, results only from changing stations and required paper work. exercises are simple by itself – sit ups, pushups, pull-ups jumps over the line etc. "The catch" lies in the situation were exercises are executed with "oxygen debt" and instead of technique, endurance is a key factor. This test ruthlessly eliminates weaker can- didates, from over 300 at the beginning only 100, and sometimes even less, graduate to main part of "The SelecTion". www.fragoutmag.com

• Cover