So far I read to books due to your recommendations:
Unbroken by
Laura Hillenbrand
Great story, I really enjoyed reading it.
Tunnel in the Sky by
Robert A. Heinlein
I did not know what to think of it, when I read the beginning. It felt to me that the characters in the book did not treat this "Survival" course very special. This course seemed to be regarded as rather unimportant. The main character had no need to take that exam right away. He could have done it later, but it is not obligatory.
However the later part was definitly what I was looking for. I wished the author had covered a longer time period with a deeper character developement and less time jumps.
Still it is a good read.
Thank you very much!