TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A training exercise for Taiwan's elite special forces turned perilous Thursday (June 5) when a 24-year-old Army corporal identified only by his surname Chen nearly drowned at a military facility in Kinmen, an island outpost near mainland China. The incident occurred during an intensive selection course at the Army 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Kinmen Battalion (陸軍航空特戰指揮部金門兩棲偵查營), where candidates endure extreme physical challenges to join the prestigious "Sea Dragon Frogmen" (海龍蛙兵), Taiwan's equivalent to the U.S. Navy SEALs, known for conducting covert maritime operations.
Wang Hsin-wei (王信為), who serves as political warfare director (政戰主任), a position responsible for morale and ideological education within Taiwan's military units, at the Aviation and Special Forces Command (航特部), told reporters that training staff identified the emergency situation immediately and executed rescue procedures without delay. The quick intervention likely saved the young soldier's life, Wang suggested. Medical officials have transported Corporal Chen to Taipei's Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH, 台北三軍總醫院), the primary military medical facility in Taiwan's capital, where he remains in stable condition while doctors conduct thorough evaluations. Defense officials have launched an internal review of safety protocols for high-risk training exercises.
The elite unit, formally designated as the Army 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB-101, 陸軍航特部兩棲偵察營) but widely known by their Sea Dragon Frogmen nickname, maintains strategic operations across Taiwan's outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu, conducting specialized maritime security and reconnaissance missions. Military documents indicate the qualification process spans three grueling months divided into two increasingly difficult phases, with approximately 70% of candidates failing to complete the program. Prospective frogmen must demonstrate exceptional capabilities in physical conditioning, hand-to-hand combat techniques, and aquatic maneuvers before facing the notorious "Iron Man Road" test (硬漢門), a punishing final challenge designed to evaluate mental fortitude and unwavering discipline under extreme duress. ◼