Since the inauguration of the “Claws of Courage School” in 1989 has had students from Europe or America. But it has mainly served for the formation of the Combat Special Force against Drug Trafficking in Bolivia, FELCN.

The elements are preparing for the training in the pool. They must learn survival in the river because their main area of action is the jungle. Despite being police the training and discipline are military.

Known as Leopards, its graduates have defended the jungles and valleys of Bolivia in some cases even with their lives. Thanks to their training based on the American Rangers have won international recognition, becoming a landmark in South America. For this reason it is common for countries across the continent send their agents to the school. The most common countries are Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Argentina, Colombia and Panama.

The training has a duration of 97 days in which “elements” are isolated from the rest of the world and the training is focused on water survival, jungle survival, advanced shooting and melee. The training faces the elements to stress not only physical but psychological. For this reason less than 50% of students complete the training.

Training and military regime prepare “elements” for future work against drug trafficking. In the next years as part of the contract that they had signed before the training, they will be relocated in all kind of weathers and locations, from “altiplano” to jungles, from cities to small checkpoints.

The war cry for this promotion is “In the mind the victory, in the body the power, with the Claws of the Courage we all can win. “

The full set of 58 images: Claws of Courage School – Men.

Related set of 51 images: Claws of Courage School – Women.

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The elements are preparing for the training in the pool. They must learn survival in the river because their main area of action is the jungle. From the 100 students who began the course still resist 66, the dropout rate is very high, between 50 and 65% drop.

A group of elements takes a rest upon completion of survival. Every year foreign students, mainly from neighboring countries, attend the course, because of its prestige. In this course there are students from Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Bolivia.

From the archive: Claws of Courage School – Women

For 97 days the elements train in water, jungle, shooting and melee combat. Senda 3, Cochabamba, Bolivia. Tuesday, November. 24, 2009.

Available in: 4see Photographers

The training is conducted in the field and by trainers specializing in this field. Puerto Villarroel, Cochabamba, Bolivia. Wednesday, November. 25, 2009.

Available in: 4see Photographers

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