Combat Forces

Combat Forces

26 Episodes

Combat Forces is a documentary television series that profiles what young NATO & Coalition soldiers, sailors and airmen go through to be among the best in the world. From intense combat training to highly competitive physical fitness challenges, we follow the military as it prepares for possible deployment to hotspots throughout the world. You will see urban warfare training, fighter jets in air-to-air combat, soldiers making their first parachute jump, divers learning how to disarm a bomb, and heavy armor tanks slugging it out in accuracy and tactics competitions. Their fear, pain, and anxiety are real. So is their passionate pride. Come see these young military personnel as they train and compete to be the best of the best.

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Combat Forces

26 Episodes

  • Combat Forces - Infantry Fighting Vehicles
    23:04
    Combat Forces - Infantry Fighting Vehicles
    Episode 1

    Combat Forces - Infantry Fighting Vehicles

    Episode 1

    Bullets, shrapnel, and IEDs threaten infantry. For protection, modern militaries developed the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). This progression of technology since WWII has resulted in the versatile, lethal, and highly protected IFVs used by today’s soldiers to survive and dominate the battlefield.

  • Combat Forces - Navy Divers
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Navy Divers
    Episode 2

    Combat Forces - Navy Divers

    Episode 2

    When a ship’s propeller is tangled in nets or an enemy attaches a mine, one specialist answers the call: the ship diver. This sailor, trained for this critical secondary duty, undertakes perilous missions to save the vessel and its crew. They are the unseen heroes operating beneath the waves. Dis...

  • Combat Forces - Combat Trauma Care
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Combat Trauma Care
    Episode 3

    Combat Forces - Combat Trauma Care

    Episode 3

    Many soldiers die on battlefield wounds within minutes without care. Medics can't be everywhere. To counter IEDs and bombs causing preventable deaths, the military created Combat Casualty Care. This specialized medical training is now given to all soldiers, empowering them to save lives when ever...

  • Combat Forces - Combat Medics
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Combat Medics
    Episode 4

    Combat Forces - Combat Medics

    Episode 4

    Combat medics stand apart on the field of honor. They rush to aid wounded soldiers, even under heavy fire. We joined their intense training exercises to see what it takes to save lives. Their unwavering commitment to their comrades truly makes the ultimate difference.

  • Combat Forces - Basic Training
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Basic Training
    Episode 5

    Combat Forces - Basic Training

    Episode 5

    Before becoming a soldier, sailor, or airman, all must pass the ultimate hurdle: basic training. This episode examines the intense physical and psychological tests that transform civilians into the disciplined, capable warriors of tomorrow.

  • Combat Forces - Elite Forces
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Elite Forces
    Episode 6

    Combat Forces - Elite Forces

    Episode 6

    Specially trained for missions beyond the norm, from Special Operations Forces to uniquely qualified units, these elite forces are prepared to achieve any objective, anywhere, anytime.

  • Combat Forces - Damage Control School
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Damage Control School
    Episode 7

    Combat Forces - Damage Control School

    Episode 7

    Fire & flooding are a sailor's worst nightmare. At NATO damage control schools, crews battle intense, realistic scenarios—from raging fireballs to crippling hull breaches in total darkness. You feel the searing heat, the icy water, and their palpable fear as they fight to save their ship. This is...

  • Combat Forces - Paratroopers
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Paratroopers
    Episode 8

    Combat Forces - Paratroopers

    Episode 8

    Airborne soldiers are elite force multipliers. Dropped behind enemy lines, they secure key objectives and conduct devastating ambushes. Discover the intense training required to become a paratrooper at two of the world's premier airborne schools, where soldiers learn these unique and critical cap...

  • Combat Forces - 82nd Airbourne
    23:03
    Combat Forces - 82nd Airbourne
    Episode 9

    Combat Forces - 82nd Airbourne

    Episode 9

    They are force multipliers: the 82nd Airborne. These elite shock troops are tougher, faster, and deadlier than standard infantry. They descend from the night sky, jumping from as low as 600 feet to strike deep behind enemy lines where others cannot. We join these hardened paratroopers in their in...

  • Combat Forces - Stealth Submarines
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Stealth Submarines
    Episode 10

    Combat Forces - Stealth Submarines

    Episode 10

    Nuclear subs rule the seas, yet their greatest foe is a modern diesel submarine. Renowned for incredible stealth, these diesel boats are uniquely lethal. We dive into the dark depths of the Norwegian Fjords on a NATO exercise to discover why they are such a formidable and deadly threat.

  • Combat Forces - Pathfinders
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Pathfinders
    Episode 11

    Combat Forces - Pathfinders

    Episode 11

    Since WWII, elite paratroopers known as Pathfinders operate behind enemy lines. Their primary mission is to “light the way” for major airborne assaults. However, their role extends to ambushes and vital intelligence gathering. These specially trained NATO soldiers tackle the most difficult and da...

  • Combat Forces - Airbourne Artillery
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Airbourne Artillery
    Episode 12

    Combat Forces - Airbourne Artillery

    Episode 12

    Artillery is the battlefield's hammer. Now imagine making it airborne, dropping it behind enemy lines. That's the premise of airborne artillery: a mobile, specialized force providing long-distance fire support. We go to Fort Bragg to explore this unique warfare discipline.

  • Combat Forces - Coalition Training
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Coalition Training
    Episode 13

    Combat Forces - Coalition Training

    Episode 13

    Historically and today, entering combat with allies is paramount. Modern forces constantly train together in joint operations, forging the cooperation and mutual understanding of procedures critical to their success in battles across theaters like Iraq and Afghanistan. This unity remains a corner...

  • Combat Forces - Reconnaissance
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Reconnaissance
    Episode 14

    Combat Forces - Reconnaissance

    Episode 14

    Success in combat hinges on knowledge of enemy strengths and weaknesses. Reconnaissance units are specialized soldiers and marines trained to operate behind enemy lines. Their mission: gather vital intelligence. We explore their rigorous, specialized training.

  • Combat Forces - Best Ranger Competition
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Best Ranger Competition
    Episode 15

    Combat Forces - Best Ranger Competition

    Episode 15

    Rangers are elite light infantry. Each year, Army Ranger School holds a fierce competition to find the best Ranger team. Dubbed the ultimate Army Olympics, this intense 3-day event tests the world's best soldiers to crown the ultimate warrior.

  • Combat Forces - Combat Fitness
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Combat Fitness
    Episode 16

    Combat Forces - Combat Fitness

    Episode 16

    Combat fitness is essential soldier training. It builds the strength and endurance required to survive in battle. This specialized regimen is not just for the military; its principles are now effectively adapted for high-intensity civilian workouts, proving vital in any high-stress scenario.

  • Combat Forces - Urban Warfare
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Urban Warfare
    Episode 17

    Combat Forces - Urban Warfare

    Episode 17

    Urban combat is brutal. Recent wars in Bosnia, Somalia, and Iraq prove specialized training is essential. At urban warfare facilities worldwide, soldiers learn the critical skills needed to survive and fight in this intense, house-to-house environment.

  • Combat Forces - Full Spectrum Warfare
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Full Spectrum Warfare
    Episode 18

    Combat Forces - Full Spectrum Warfare

    Episode 18

    Modern warfare spans sea, air, and land. This special episode explores the intense training for this multi-domain combat, known as Full Spectrum Warfare. See how militaries prepare for all threats.

  • Combat Forces - Simulated Warfare
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Simulated Warfare
    Episode 19

    Combat Forces - Simulated Warfare

    Episode 19

    High-tech is revolutionizing warfare and training. This episode explores the advanced simulators and related technologies preparing soldiers for modern combat, ensuring they are ready to fight and win.

  • Combat Forces - Navy Boarding Party
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Navy Boarding Party
    Episode 20

    Combat Forces - Navy Boarding Party

    Episode 20

    Boarding ships is ancient, but today's challenges are not. Modern sailors train for perilous missions beyond their ancestors' experience: enforcing embargoes, confronting missile-armed pirates, and catching smugglers. It is intensely dangerous work. We visit elite global training facilities to se...

  • Combat Forces - Snipers
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Snipers
    Episode 21

    Combat Forces - Snipers

    Episode 21

    Silent, covert, deadly. Snipers are a commander's ultimate secret weapon and the battlefield's long-range killers. We go inside elite sniper schools to witness their intense training. Discover their advanced weaponry and the unique field craft that makes them so effective.

  • Combat Forces - Army Combatives
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Army Combatives
    Episode 22

    Combat Forces - Army Combatives

    Episode 22

    At the Army Combatives School in Fort Benning, soldiers confront their greatest fear: hand-to-hand combat. They learn to fight for survival, not sport. The skills taught here go beyond the UFC. These are the brutal, unforgiving skills that can kill.

  • Combat Forces - First Ten Combat Missions
    23:03
    Combat Forces - First Ten Combat Missions
    Episode 23

    Combat Forces - First Ten Combat Missions

    Episode 23

    In Vietnam, the USAF found 90% of pilot losses happened in their first 10 missions. To counter this, they created a specialized training program replicating those critical initial combat missions. The results were dramatic, drastically increasing survival rates.

  • Combat Forces - Artillery
    23:03
    Combat Forces - Artillery
    Episode 24

    Combat Forces - Artillery

    Episode 24

    Discover why artillery is the "King of Battle." This episode reveals how modern artillery works, its powerful ammunition, and its vital combat role. We join gunners training for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, showcasing their crucial preparation for modern warfare.

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