Introduction

Documentary series following a batch of 45 fresh-faced 16-17 year old recruits going through the British Army’s basic training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Each one will suffer successes and failures as they attempt to prove that they have what it takes to be a soldier.

Outline Series 01, Episode 01

On the first day the physical demands are high for the rookies as they are pushed to their limits with fitness assessments, and the teens are taught how to strip down a rifle correctly, as well as how to use their gas masks (aka respirator), before the platoon heads out for its first exercise.

Army recruit Lizzie Bray, 17 years old, from Crewe, is sitting her weapons handling test on the SA80 assault rifle. The corporal instructs her, “Strip your weapons system down for normal daily cleaning,” but Lizzie immediately looks fed up. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whines, sounding both stroppy and on the verge of tears.

And instead of bawling her out – the kind of thing we are used to in military training TV – the corp coaxes her on, seeing her bolshiness as a lack of confidence. The nurturing approach is laudable, but it doesn’t make for the fireworks we look for in this kind of doc. Even so, the regime imposed on astonishingly young recruits makes for interesting viewing.

Raw Recruits: Squaddies at 16 Series

• Series 01:
  • Episode 01: Break Them Down, Build Them Up.
  • Episode 02.
  • Episode 03.
  • Episode 04: Do or Die.
• Series 02:
  • Episode 01.
  • Episode 02.
  • Episode 03.
  • Episode 04.
  • Episode 05.
  • Episode 06.

Production & Filming Details

• Director: Will Yapp.
• Producers: Clive Tulloch, Gemma Delaney, and Will Yapp.
• Production: Burning Bright Productions and Channel Five Broadcasting.
• Distributor: Channel 5.
• Release Date: 03 October 2016 (UK).
• Running time: 60 minutes.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

YouTube Link