The Ultimate Test: Where Are The Special Forces Season 1 Cast Now? (Updated December 2025)

The FOX reality series Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 1 redefined 'celebrity boot camp' when it premiered in early 2023, pushing 16 household names to their absolute mental and physical breaking points. Unlike typical reality shows, there was no voting, no prize money, and no safety net—the only way out was to voluntarily withdraw, suffer a medical injury, or be cut by the Directing Staff (DS). This brutal, unscripted format set in the harsh Jordanian desert offered a raw look at what happens when fame and fortune are stripped away, leaving behind only the human will to survive a condensed version of the actual Special Forces selection process.

As of December 2025, the impact of the inaugural season continues to resonate, with many of the recruits citing the experience as life-changing. From a former *Bachelorette* star proving her grit to a controversial actor seeking a public reset, the cast of recruits faced extreme challenges like a 100-foot free fall, tear gas drills, and intense interrogations. Only two recruits successfully completed the entire course. Below is the definitive list of the entire Season 1 cast, their claims to fame, and the latest updates on where they are now.

The 16 Celebrity Recruits: Full Biography and Exit Status

The first season of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test featured a diverse group of celebrities, all of whom entered the course as 'Recruits' and were stripped of their names, referred to only by a number.

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• Danny Amendola (Recruit #1): Former NFL Wide Receiver, two-time Super Bowl champion. Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in the final episode.
• Mel B (Recruit #2): Spice Girl ("Scary Spice") and television personality. Status: Medically Withdrawn after a grueling challenge.
• Hannah Brown (Recruit #3): Former star of The Bachelorette and *Dancing with the Stars* champion. Status: PASSED the course.
• Tyler Florence (Recruit #4): Celebrity Chef and Food Network host. Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 5 due to exhaustion.
• Kate Gosselin (Recruit #5): Reality television star (Jon & Kate Plus 8). Status: Medically Withdrew in Episode 1 after sustaining a severe neck injury.
• Dwight Howard (Recruit #6): NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist. Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in the final phase (Interrogation) after making the Final Four.
• Montell Jordan (Recruit #7): R&B Singer ("This Is How We Do It"). Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 3 due to a broken thumb.
• Gus Kenworthy (Recruit #8): Olympic Freestyle Skier and silver medalist. Status: Medically Withdrew in Episode 8 due to a severe ankle injury.
• Nastia Liukin (Recruit #9): Olympic Gold Medalist Gymnast. Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 7 after a challenging rescue mission.
• Carli Lloyd (Recruit #10): Two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and Olympic Gold Medalist. Status: PASSED the course.
• Beverley Mitchell (Recruit #11): Actress (7th Heaven). Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 9, just before the final phase.
• Dr. Drew Pinsky (Recruit #12): Celebrity Doctor and media personality. Status: Medically Withdrew in Episode 2 due to severe dehydration and health concerns.
• Anthony Scaramucci (Recruit #13): Former White House Communications Director. Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 6 due to physical failure.
• Jamie Lynn Spears (Recruit #14): Actress (Zoey 101) and singer. Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 1 due to mental and emotional distress.
• Jussie Smollett (Recruit #15): Actor and singer (Empire). Status: Medically Withdrew in Episode 3 due to a respiratory issue and severe cough.
• Maureen McCormick (Recruit #16): Actress (The Brady Bunch). Status: Voluntarily Withdrew in Episode 4 after struggling with the mental aspect of the course.

The Two Recruits Who Passed: Hannah Brown and Carli Lloyd

The ultimate goal of the Special Forces selection course is not to 'win' in the traditional reality TV sense, but to simply survive and pass the final assessment, which is determined by the Directing Staff (DS). In the inaugural season, only two recruits were deemed to have met the standard and successfully passed the grueling 10-day test: Hannah Brown and Carli Lloyd.

The Final Four consisted of Danny Amendola, Dwight Howard, Hannah Brown, and Carli Lloyd. The final phase, which included a brutal interrogation process (Tactical Questioning), proved to be the breaking point for the two male athletes. Amendola voluntarily withdrew, citing mental exhaustion and a persistent shoulder injury, while Howard also withdrew during the intense questioning, struggling with the psychological pressure.

Hannah Brown's Transformation: The former *Bachelorette* star, known for her emotional journey on dating reality TV, stunned viewers and the DS with her mental fortitude. She consistently faced her fears, including the terrifying backward 100-foot free fall, and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the process. Her success was a major personal victory, proving her strength far beyond her public persona. Post-show, Brown has spoken about the lasting impact of the experience, noting that she is now "open" to returning to reality television, though perhaps nothing as intense as the Jordanian desert.

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Carli Lloyd's Champion Mentality: The legendary soccer star, known for her intense focus and discipline, approached the course with the same professional athlete's mindset that won her two World Cups. Lloyd's physical endurance was unmatched, and her mental toughness allowed her to push through the most challenging moments. She was one of the strongest recruits from start to finish, and her passing the course solidified her reputation as one of the toughest athletes in the world.

High-Profile Exits: Controversies, Injuries, and Emotional Breakdowns

The show was defined as much by those who finished as by the dramatic exits. Several high-profile celebrities left the course early due to medical issues or profound emotional struggle, highlighting the genuine danger and difficulty of the selection process.

The Jussie Smollett Story: Actor Jussie Smollett's appearance was highly anticipated, as it marked a significant television return following his legal troubles related to an alleged hate crime hoax. Smollett expressed a desire for the show to be a "great kind of reset" for his public image. However, his time was cut short in Episode 3 when he was medically withdrawn after developing a severe, painful cough, which was later determined to be an allergy. His early exit prevented a full exploration of his mental resilience under the DS's pressure, leaving his intended "reset" incomplete.

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Jamie Lynn Spears' Quick Withdrawal: Britney Spears' younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, had one of the quickest and most emotional exits. She withdrew in the first episode, only 48 hours into the course. She broke down while discussing the trauma of a near-fatal accident involving her daughter, revealing that the fear and stress of the course brought her past struggles to the surface. Her decision to prioritize her mental health and family became a major talking point for the season. Following the show, Spears participated in other reality competitions, but her emotional vulnerability on Special Forces remains a key moment of the season.

Kate Gosselin's Shocking Injury: Reality star Kate Gosselin was the first recruit to be medically withdrawn. During a challenging surface-to-air rescue drill, she suffered a severe neck injury that required immediate medical attention and her removal from the course in the premiere episode. The injury underscored the high physical risk of the tasks, proving that the show's dangers were very real.

The Directing Staff (DS) and the Selection Process

The backbone of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test is the Directing Staff (DS), a team of elite former Special Forces operatives who ran the course. Their roles were to administer the training, assess the recruits, and maintain the intense, non-negotiable atmosphere of a real military selection. The DS members for Season 1 were:

• Rudy Reyes: Former U.S. Recon Marine.
• Mark "Billy" Billingham: Former SAS Operator.
• Jason "Foxy" Fox: Former SBS Operator.
• Remi Adeleke: Former Navy SEAL.

The DS operated with a strict, no-nonsense approach, using psychological warfare and relentless physical demands to find the recruits' breaking points. The course was set in the arid, unforgiving Jordanian desert, a location chosen specifically to compound the recruits' physical and mental stress. Key challenges included a terrifying cliff rappel, close-quarters combat training, the aforementioned Tactical Questioning (TQs) phase, and the constant psychological pressure of being screamed at and deprived of basic comforts. These techniques are all standard elements of the real-world Special Forces selection process, designed to test resilience, integrity, and leadership under extreme duress—qualities that ultimately only Hannah Brown and Carli Lloyd proved they possessed.

The legacy of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test Season 1 is one of unexpected resilience and stark reality. The show successfully stripped away the celebrity facade, leaving behind a group of individuals who faced their deepest fears and personal demons. The stories of those who passed, like Hannah Brown and Carli Lloyd, and those who had to leave, like Dwight Howard and Mel B, continue to serve as a powerful testament to the intensity of the world's toughest military training.