Mexican special forces, carrying backpacks weighing over 20 kg, trekked to the summit of a volcano in training to prepare for missions to eradicate transnational drug trafficking gangs after killing "El Mencho," a major drug lord, last month.
Foreign media reported that the military forces from Mexico's Special Forces Corps (Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales) began intense training yesterday (10 Mar). This training serves as a selection process to join the country's strongest combat unit by hiking to conquer the summit of the "Iztaccíhuatl" volcano, located in the mountain range surrounding Mexico City, to test physical and mental limits.
This special forces unit consists of elite soldiers assigned the critical task of suppressing major criminal organizations and drug trafficking gangs. They recently succeeded in an operation that killed Nemesio Oseguera, also known as "El Mencho," the supreme leader of the "Jalisco New Generation" (CJNG) gang in the state of Jalisco.
During yesterday's training, every soldier carried backpacks and equipment weighing more than 20 kilograms, trekking over 25 kilometers up steep mountains toward one of Mexico's highest peaks.
The officer overseeing this grueling training stated that training in such an environment is a privilege for the selected soldiers, as it builds essential skills enabling them to operate under any circumstances, anywhere, anytime. These are the core principles of being special forces.
However, before the test began, the soldiers performed a local traditional ceremony to ask forgiveness and permission from the mountain spirits for using the area for training and to request protection and safety.
Mexico's special forces training program is known for its harshness and intensity, lasting up to eight months and covering all terrains, including parachuting, urban combat, survival in rainforests, high mountains, deserts, and underwater operations, ensuring all soldiers are ready to face the fierce ongoing drug war.
Source: AP
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