On an island off southwest Java, Indonesia's special forces are putting on a fiery show for their families and military commander, Maj.-Gen.
Artillery rounds rock the beach and tracer fire rents the pre-dawn sky.
The young men have just survived a training period that must rank as one of the most grueling on earth. That is followed by a short swim to Nusakambangan island, only to be captured and jailed. Then compulsory escape and a week of trying to remain uncaptured until the pre-dawn rendezvous and graduation ceremony on the beach. Small wonder many of the initiates look half-dead. Recapture only hours from the finish means disqualification.