Most Singaporeans are familiar with Gurkhas, who are elite soldiers recruited from Nepal.

They are known for their extraordinary physical and mental robustness, resourcefulness and dependability.

Apart from Singapore, a few countries such as India and Britain also hire and recruit them.

It is in Britain where some changes are taking shape.

Women will be allowed to join

Britain is planning to open up recruitment for their Gurkha force to include women as well.

The Gurkhas have been serving in Britain for more than 200 years, but this is the first time they will be opening their ranks up to women.

The change in recruitment policy will take place in 2020.

According to Gavin Williamson, Britain's defence secretary, it "is right" to give women the option of serving in this elite group.

Nepalese women have already been able to join the British Army previously.

There are currently 3,000 Gurkha men serving in Britain, mostly in infantry. The number is set to go up by 800 personnel.

Same standards

Any potential female member of the group will have to pass the same selection test the men are put through.

Most notoriously, the Doko test.

This comprises of a person carrying a 25kg basket of rocks uphill for 5km.

And to round it off, the trainee has to make it to the top within 48 minutes.

Male trainees are known to undergo training to be Gurkhas for three years straight without eventually qualifying due to the stringent nature of the tests and high bar set for passing out as a bona fide elite soldier.

You can check out the Gurkha training video here:

Scary.

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