World’s Toughest Test’ Contestants Must Follow

Competing on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is no easy feat.

The Fox competition show sees celebrities from all walks of life face grueling training exercises led by directing staff (DS) agents, an elite team of ex–Special Forces operatives. Viewers watch as the contestants — known as recruits — push themselves in physical, mental and emotional tests, and ultimately quit, fail, get injured or are dismissed.

In January 2023, season 1 contestant Dwight Howard said filming the “super intense” show was also “the greatest experience of my life.”

The NBA champion also spoke about the mix of physical, mental and emotional challenges of the show, saying, “All three combined was something that we needed to be on this show, and really for me, all three of those areas got lifted up during the show. I grew so much in those areas.”

Now, a new group of stars — including Teresa Giudice, Gia Giudice, Jussie Smollett, Eva Marcille and Brittany Cartwright — will be put to the test in season 4 of Special Forces, which premieres on Sept. 25.

While they’re pushing their limits, contestants will also have to abide by a strict set of rules. Below, here are nine rules you didn’t know Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test contestants must follow.

Contestants have to keep their casting a secret

Once they get the casting call, celebrities have to keep the news under wraps, oftentimes for several months.

While filming season 3 of Special Forces, Bachelorette alum Trista Sutter‘s husband, Ryan Sutter, shared a cryptic Instagram post about her being gone, which sparked speculation about their relationship status. However, Trista couldn’t explain what was going on and had to keep the news secret for six months, leaving her all the more grateful when the time came to announce her casting to the world.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s finally here!’ ” she told PEOPLE in December 2024. “So excited to finally share with everybody. … And if you read it again, the post, knowing that that’s where I was, it totally makes sense.”

They have to obey orders from the directing staff agents

Given that Special Forces is all about mirroring the playbook of the actual (and intense) Special Forces selection process, recruits have to obey orders from the DS.

“I think people think when they watch this show that there was extra‑special treatment, or you didn’t have to really strip naked and get in the tank and then roll around in the sand. Yeah, we did,” season 1 contestant Melanie Brown said during a press conference, per Reality Blurred. “We did everything that we were told to do.”

Only specific hygiene products are allowed

Competing on Special Forces is far from a five-star vacation. Season 1 contestant Hannah Brown told Parade in March 2023 that she “missed feeling clean” while on the show, given that they were only able to use the essentials.

“I’ll go a few days without washing my hair, but this was a little bit to an extreme,” she said. “I had globs of sand stuck in my braids and my scalp was full of sand. We couldn’t bring anything to shave our legs. I think I was growing hairy boots by that point.”

She continued, “We had a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and some deodorant, and that was essentially it. That was really tough.”

They only have two sets of clothes

During a January 2023 interview with E! News, Brown shared that the “living conditions” were the “hardest part” about being on Special Forces.

“All we were given was a box that had three pairs of underwear, two bras,” the former Bachelorette said, adding that they only had “two sets of clothes for the entire time.”

“We were on the tiniest cots all in a tent outside in the Jordanian desert going to the bathroom in buckets with a piece of plywood in between us that our heads were out the whole time,” Brown continued. “This is not a beauty pageant at all. I’m honestly terrified to see what I look like the entire time. It truly feels like you’re fighting for your life at all times. You’re just in discomfort the entire time.”

Contestants shouldn’t have personal photos

During an August 2023 episode of his podcast, Nick Viall shared that there was a rule broken by his fellow contestant, Tom Sandoval, during his time on the show.

“He snuck in pictures of him and Rachel [Leviss] and he showed them to the cast, for what’s that worth. You weren’t allowed to sneak things in,” Viall said, adding that he would have “loved to sneak in a picture” of his now-wife, Natalie Joy.

“I guess I could have tried but I just didn’t,” Viall continued, going on to say that Sandoval went “out of his way” to bring in “endearing photos” of him and Leviss.

Contestants can’t have their phones or electronics

It’s a phone-free zone while contestants are competing on Special Forces.

“Being off your phone for two weeks, not having your phone or any electronics with you is something that ultimately is probably beneficial, so I would probably do it again,” season 1 contestant Gus Kenworthy told Out Magazine in February 2023.

They don’t know what time challenges begin

For those who like a structured schedule, one of the toughest parts of Special Forces might be learning to adjust to the fact that they won’t know what lies in the day ahead. Challenges can begin at any time — yes, even if it’s during your REM cycle.

“You would go to bed, and your clothes are so wet, and you don’t want to take them off because you have no idea when you’re going to have to go,” Kenworthy told Health Digest in February 2023. “It could be in 30 minutes, or it could be in six hours.”

They can’t go to the bathroom alone

Special Forces involves a lot of teamwork — including a buddy system when someone needs to use the restroom.

Mel B. shared during a press conference that contestants have to have a buddy when they go to the bathroom, because in “true combat style,” they don’t want anyone to ever be alone, per Reality Blurred.

“You have to say to somebody in your barracks, ‘Does anybody need the loo or the bucket or the hole in the floor?’ Because you have to go with somebody, which is even bizarre in itself,” she said, revealing that her buddy was often Howard.

“You can’t escape because you can’t leave the toilet until they’re done, because you have to run back into your barracks together,” she said.

Contestants have to see a doctor before they leave

Given the intensity of Special Forces, contestants must see a doctor and a psychologist before they head back home.

“They make you see a doctor as you’re leaving. He says, ‘How do you feel?’ I thought, I feel really good. He goes yeah, of course you do. You’ve got so much adrenaline pumping through you right now,” season 1 contestant Anthony Scaramucci told journalist Brittany Frederick in February 2023.

Scaramucci added, “He says in about 72 hours that adrenaline is going to dissipate and you’re going to be feeling a lot of aches and pains. If you need to call me or somebody, let me know. He was a hundred percent right.”