The Knights, one of the top-ranked parachute teams in the world, perform more than 8,500 aerial demonstrations a year. Every year, they conduct a selection proves to find the next round of team members.

And for some, the dream to become a Golden Knight began at a young age.

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Metzdorf started out by jumping out of planes for the 82nd Airborne before trying out for the Knights.

Golden Knights

News 14 Carolina's Gavin MacRoberts has more on tryouts for the Army's Golden Knights.

This year they started out with 20 applicants and only 13 have made it through the eight-week selection process.

"We could take zero, or we could take them all. What it is, there is a standard. If they meet the standard, they make the team," Staff Sgt. Tom Dunning, of the Golden Knights, said. "If they don't meet the standard, then they can come back later."

Soldiers said going through the rough selection process is worth it for a chance to turn a hobby into a career.

"[It's] kind of like flying an aircraft, but it is your body," Spec. Brandi Phillips, a candidate for the Golden Knights, said.

Metzdorf didn't really consider joining the Golden Knights until the Army asked him if he was interested. In 2004, he was serving with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq when a roadside bomb took his leg.

He is now training to join one of the demonstration teams to tell the public his story.

"Getting me to jump out of planes again, get me running around, walking, doing everything I use to do -- doing it for the American public, that is Army strong," Metzdorf said.

He says it's not in his character to let anything keep him grounded.

Final evaluations for the selection process end this weekend.

If selected, the soldiers will be assigned to either the demonstration teams, competition teams or the tandem skydiving team.