Chapter 13: The Courage Training
Tank Battalion, Tank Parking Area, located at the deepest part of the new training base’s drill ground.
Covering an area of 3,700 square meters, it is the largest unit by area within the Iron Fist Regiment.
Just the parking and compartment area for a single tank requires about a hundred square meters.
The Iron Fist Regiment has a total of thirty tanks stationed here, each exuding power and dominance!
Its exclusive training grounds, including driving, live-fire exercises, and maintenance training, can only be conducted on a neglected piece of land behind the regiment, spanning nearly fifty thousand square meters.
As soon as they approached the tank battalion, the new recruits felt the ground tremble faintly beneath their feet.
The mood of the two squads soared instantly, stirred by the sheer presence of these colossal machines!
No one who joins the military fails to be captivated by the allure of firearms and the commanding presence of heavy weaponry.
Today was their first true encounter with these deadly weapons.
Their hearts raced, adrenaline surging uncontrollably!
Two squad leaders quickly stepped forward, relayed a brief message to the sentry at the battalion front, and then led the two squads of recruits officially into the tank battalion.
In the distance, a tank slowly rumbled to life and steadily approached their position.
It stopped quietly just five meters away, waiting.
For all of them, this was their first time seeing such a behemoth.
Unlike the models in video games.
Facing a real tank—especially gazing at the black, hollow, and ominous barrel that symbolized destruction and death, surrounded by its intricate and imposing armor—
The overwhelming pressure sent shivers deep into their souls, a sensation none would ever forget.
It was like a legendary predator awakened, its burning gaze fixed squarely on them!
“How do you like it?”
Seeing all the recruits frozen in place, Old Hei smiled faintly and asked the group.
In unison, the recruits answered, “We like it!”
“That’s good. In the training ahead, every one of you will get intimately acquainted with it. Hopefully, by then, you’ll still like it,” said the second squad leader sternly. As he spoke, he briskly walked to the front of the tank and gestured toward the driver’s hatch.
The next second, the tank roared to life again and charged directly at the second squad leader!
Instantly, the recruits’ pupils dilated as if witnessing something terrifying!
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the distance between the squad leader and the tank rapidly closed.
Finally, when there was less than two and a half meters between them—
The second squad leader suddenly dropped forward, crawling beneath the tank between the two tracks.
The massive machine seemed to carry on as if nothing had happened, continuing forward.
Only when it drew close to the recruits face-to-face did it come to an abrupt halt.
“Courage is a trait every soldier must possess. You don’t have to wait until the tank is nearly on top of you like I did. Just find a spot ahead of the tracks and lie low there,” the squad leader said as he returned to the front of the formation.
He brushed dust off his clothes as if it were a trivial matter.
But to the recruits, his words struck like a bombshell, shaking them to their core.
Me—
A rookie who had only been in the new recruit camp for two days—facing off against a tank?
Not only would I have to endure immense psychological pressure, but I would also have to lie flat on the ground and let the tank roll over me?
Isn’t that playing with fire?
At this moment, the two squads of recruits were unaware that the squad leader had already reduced the courage training’s difficulty to the lowest level.
His forward dive had been risky—one wrong move and he would have been mercilessly crushed by the track.
Given that the recruits’ mental resilience and courage were still immature, he deliberately lowered the difficulty, requiring everyone only to lie still on the ground to ensure absolute safety during this exercise.
“Come on, rookies, let’s see who’ll be the first to take the plunge,” Old Hei said with a half-smile, suddenly holding a camouflaged steel helmet.
Usually, the recruits would respond immediately to their squad leaders’ commands.
But today, at this moment, they were genuinely panicked; not a single person dared to speak up!
After all,
This training truly carried the risk of injury—even death!
Although the two squad leaders had minimized the difficulty, and the recruits only needed to lie still to pass,
The immense psychological pressure left everyone exchanging nervous glances.
No one dared to be the first to take the risk.
Old Hei and the second squad leader had anticipated this silence perfectly.
Seeing no response, Old Hei fixed his gaze on Qi Tian, the squad leader of the first squad.
“You’re not saying anything? Then it’s you. You dared to challenge the company commander on your first day here, so you can’t be a coward!”
“Yes, sir!”
Qi Tian didn’t feel surprised at being called out by Old Hei.
Over the past two days, whether by coincidence or design, he had appeared most frequently before Old Hei.
It was only natural for Old Hei to ask him to be the first to undergo the training.
More importantly, Qi Tian knew clearly that no one could avoid this training; it was merely a matter of order.
Rather than delay and let fear grow, it was better to summon courage and conquer the inner demon.
Even if Old Hei hadn’t singled him out, Qi Tian was ready to step forward.
Taking the helmet from Old Hei, Qi Tian took a deep breath and lay down two meters in front of the tank.
He raised his hand to signal the driver.
As the tank restarted, Qi Tian immediately withdrew his hand and crossed his arms over his chest.
At that moment, the recruits from both squads watched Qi Tian’s rigid, straight figure not far away, swallowing hard involuntarily.
This training was truly a test of life and death!
Unlike the other soldiers’ nervous, tense feelings, Qi Tian remained unusually calm.
He was certain he was positioned exactly between the two tracks.
As long as he didn’t move, this training would pose no real difficulty.
One and a half meters, one meter, half a meter!
Seconds later, the tank’s dark, sturdy barrel passed safely over Qi Tian’s body.
Then the entire tank rolled smoothly above him, passing by three or four meters before coming to a sudden stop.
Qi Tian quickly rose, dusted himself off calmly, and returned the helmet to Old Hei.
Looking at Qi Tian, Old Hei’s eyes brightened, and he instinctively praised him:
“Steady emotions, calm and composed, well-controlled—kid, you’re impressive!”
From Qi Tian’s composure, Old Hei was fully confident.
This soldier would never lack courage in battle!
At that moment, the second squad leader behind Qi Tian also took the lead, applauding him enthusiastically.
Next, the recruits from both squads joined in, their applause thunderous!