Guns for Hire: British Gurkha Tryouts

POKHARA, NEPAL - DECEMBER 06: Young Nepalese men try on new berets after being chosen to become members of the famed British Gurkhas in Pokhara, Nepal on December 6, 2005. Every year some thirteen thousand young Nepalese men travel from their villages in the foothills of the Himalayas to take part in the physically and mentally challenging tryouts with the hopes of becoming members of the British Gurkhas. The Gurkhas were first hired as soldiers of fortune in the early 19th century by the British East India company. They formed the backbone of the company's private army. After the company was disbanded the Gurkhas were absorbed into the British military. To this day these Nepalese men still fight under the British flag. Of the thirteen thousand that tryout only a few hundred will be accepted. (Photo by Matt Moyer/Getty Images)