An exam for a maroon beret has recently passed in the Karaganda region. It was visited by the photographer Valery Kaliev and thanks to him today we can see how this test goes. Note that the maroon beret does not give any additional privileges, such as, for example, a salary increase or promotion, to its owner. This is a distinction for employees of special forces that a person has passed a test that not everyone is given to endure. Of the 65 candidates this year, only 8 people made it to the end. 
1. In total, there are 124 maroon berets in the country – These are the fighters who are still in the service. In Kazakhstan, the exam for the right to wear a maroon beret was held for the twelfth time.
2. At all stages, candidates are led by intermediaries – those who received the beret last year. Now they are proving their qualifications. Mediators, unlike candidates, run light. They make sure that the candidate does not mess around and does everything right.
3. The entire distance is divided into stages of 5 & ndash; 10 kilometers. After each stage – short rest 3-5 minutes. Previously came – rested more.
4. Task – cross the river. Weapons must be saved.
5. Commanders, owners of maroon berets, say to candidates: “This is not our exam, this is your exam.”
6. After some stages, tasks are completed: crawling in a plastunsky way, evacuation of the wounded, digging a trench. Each of the stages and all tasks – for a while. Who did not meet, that is removed from further participation in the test.
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9. The dropout is going on all the time. Someone leaves the race on his own, someone is removed by commanders or doctors. The reasons are different: low blood pressure, cramps, dehydration. Someone leaves the "battlefield" in the back of a truck, someone is being taken away in an ambulance.
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11. There is no age limit as such. One of this year's candidates, 37, retired shortly before lunch on the first day of the exam. However, by that time there were 11 participants, including himself.
12. The most difficult test – keep going after lunch. The body is squeezed to the limit.
13. Break for about half an hour.
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15. Second day. To the obstacle course – one of the last stages – 10 km distance. Again running and again for a while. Along the strip – imitation of explosions, blank machine-gun fire and automatic bursts.
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17. Checking the health of a weapon: who doesn’t shoot – out of the "game".
18. The final stage of the competition for the right to wear maroon beret – hand-to-hand combat. Three rounds of three minutes. In the first two rounds, the candidates fight one on one, in the third – with the owner of the maroon beret. If the "nettle" if he loses to a candidate in hand-to-hand combat, then he will be stripped of his beret, therefore, with exhausted candidates, despite their fatigue, no one is on ceremony – hit for real. For the candidate, the main thing is – survive these three rounds. (Pictured – candidates in boxing helmets).
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20. In addition to passing the qualification test, you can earn a maroon beret by courage and courage in the performance or personmerit in the development of special forces units.
21. The berets were presented by the Minister of Internal Affairs Kalmukhanbet Kasymov. This year, for the first time in the last 10 years, the minister attended the presentation of maroon berets.
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23. Now in Kazakhstan there are 8 more maroon berets. One of the candidates, who received a maroon beret, took this exam for the ninth time.
