Gone are the days when a few press-ups and tackling an assault course proved your worth as a soldier.
These U.S. Marines now drink cobra blood and rip the heads off chickens with their bare teeth as part of their training.
They were among around 13,000 soldiers from seven countries participating in a combined jungle survival exercise at a military base in Thailand.
Snake it or leave it: A U.S. Marine drinks the blood of a cobra during a jungle survival exercise with the Thai Navy in Chanthaburi province, Thailand
Lapping it up: The Marines were among 13,000 soldiers from seven countries participating in a combined exercise at a military base in Thailand
A challenge with a sting in its tail: A U.S. Marine prepares to eat a scorpion during the jungle survival exercise in Thailand
No poultry affair: A U.S. marine bites the head off a chicken in another of the survival tasks they given during the 11-day exercise
After being taught how to kill venomous cobras by Thai naval instructors, the Marines were encouraged to experience the local customs of drinking the animal's blood.
Many of the soldiers quite happily obliged, tipping their heads back while the blood was squeezed out of the snake's body and into their mouths.
Afghanistan releases 65 prisoners accused of being Taliban fighters, despite US warnings they will kill NATO forces Snake blood is sold as an aphrodisiac in parts of Eastern Asia.
Not for the faint-hearted: A U.S. Marine plays with a tail of a dead cobra in his mouth during a jungle survival exercise with the Thai Navy as part of the Cobra Gold 2014
Life-saving skills: A Thai Navy instructor demonstrates to the U.S. Marines how to catch a cobra during the jungle survival exercise
Caught: Around 13,000 soldiers from seven countries, Thailand, U.S., Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia are participating in the 11-day exercise
Nimble hands: A Thai Navy instructor holds up a cobra as he passes on his knowledge about how to catch and kill the venomous snakes
Other rituals included killing a chicken by biting off its neck and eating the tail of the cobras.
The 11-day exercise, called Cobra Gold 2014, involved soldiers from Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.
It takes place in Thailand's Chon Buri province and also covers amphibious assault, humanitarian relief and evacuation of friendly forces as well as the jungle survival techniques.
Fangs very much: The Marines were encouraged to experience the local custom of drinking the animal's blood, which is sold as an aphrodisiac in parts of Eastern Asia
These U.S. Marines now drink cobra blood and rip the heads off chickens with their bare teeth as part of their training.
They were among around 13,000 soldiers from seven countries participating in a combined jungle survival exercise at a military base in Thailand.
Snake it or leave it: A U.S. Marine drinks the blood of a cobra during a jungle survival exercise with the Thai Navy in Chanthaburi province, Thailand
Lapping it up: The Marines were among 13,000 soldiers from seven countries participating in a combined exercise at a military base in Thailand
A challenge with a sting in its tail: A U.S. Marine prepares to eat a scorpion during the jungle survival exercise in Thailand
No poultry affair: A U.S. marine bites the head off a chicken in another of the survival tasks they given during the 11-day exercise
After being taught how to kill venomous cobras by Thai naval instructors, the Marines were encouraged to experience the local customs of drinking the animal's blood.
Many of the soldiers quite happily obliged, tipping their heads back while the blood was squeezed out of the snake's body and into their mouths.
Afghanistan releases 65 prisoners accused of being Taliban fighters, despite US warnings they will kill NATO forces Snake blood is sold as an aphrodisiac in parts of Eastern Asia.
Not for the faint-hearted: A U.S. Marine plays with a tail of a dead cobra in his mouth during a jungle survival exercise with the Thai Navy as part of the Cobra Gold 2014
Life-saving skills: A Thai Navy instructor demonstrates to the U.S. Marines how to catch a cobra during the jungle survival exercise
Caught: Around 13,000 soldiers from seven countries, Thailand, U.S., Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia are participating in the 11-day exercise
Nimble hands: A Thai Navy instructor holds up a cobra as he passes on his knowledge about how to catch and kill the venomous snakes
Other rituals included killing a chicken by biting off its neck and eating the tail of the cobras.
The 11-day exercise, called Cobra Gold 2014, involved soldiers from Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.
It takes place in Thailand's Chon Buri province and also covers amphibious assault, humanitarian relief and evacuation of friendly forces as well as the jungle survival techniques.
Fangs very much: The Marines were encouraged to experience the local custom of drinking the animal's blood, which is sold as an aphrodisiac in parts of Eastern Asia
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