The Shock of Capture Young Soldiers


The Shock of Capture

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Transcript


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This programme contains strong language.

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It's a dangerous time to be a soldier in the British Army...

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..as almost 380 troops have been killed in Afghanistan

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and over 1,700 seriously injured.

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-Show me your war face!

-THEY ROAR

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Stop being weak!

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And yet thousands of young men from all across the UK want to join the army

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and get their chance to fight for their country.

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When you're going, you will go.

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This series tells the story of four young men

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on their journey from civvies to soldiers...

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It's got 30 bastard-odd pence in!

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..beginning on their very first day as new recruits...

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Turn! You got it wrong!

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..through to frontline combat in Helmand.

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-Jump!

-GUNFIRE

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SHOUTING

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Jesus Christ.

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SHOUTING

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Catterick, North Yorkshire,

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one of the biggest army bases in the world.

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Pick your kit up and follow me.

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For the next 26 weeks, this will be home to 28 recruits...

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..all beginning their life in the British Army.

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There are no formal qualifications required to join the infantry.

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The recruits just need to be between the ages of 17 to 32,

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have minimal reading and writing skills

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and be prepared to lay their life on the line for Queen and country.

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I tried college, it wasn't for me.

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There was too many kids, who weren't old enough. It just wasn't me.

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If anybody says you're not scared of going to a warzone...

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WOMAN: Who's next, please?

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..they're not human, obviously. But it's...

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After you're trained, I think it mentally and physically prepares you for it.

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You don't need your ties now.

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If you've got a shirt on, take it off now.

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Next two, let's go. Chuck it back.

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-Ashley Cavanagh left school at 16.

-Send him in as soon as he's ready.

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He's spent the past two years stacking shelves in Asda.

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-Afternoon.

-Afternoon.

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-What's your name?

-Cavanagh, sir.

-Cavanagh.

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Right. You will now be known as Rifleman Cavanagh.

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You officially commence training today. Today is your official start day in the army.

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-From today, you will serve a minimum of four years.

-Right.

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'It's just nerves at the moment, I think.'

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You're with strange people that you've never met in your life

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and you're going to be spending a lot of time with them.

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And you're scared to smile!

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Almost 380 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan

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and nearly 300 of them were trained right here at Catterick.

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If these new recruits pass out and complete their training,

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some could be deployed to the frontline within three months.

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In you go, guys. Grab yourselves a seat.

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First of all, welcome. You've made a big decision by coming here

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and deciding to become soldiers in the British Army.

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Be proud of what you're doing

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and be proud of the regiment you're joining.

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It's not going to be easy.

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The main thing, though, guys, is mental robustness.

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Almost everything that you do here is all up here.

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Almost certainly, all of you at some point will deploy to Afghanistan.

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Some of you, within a few months of leaving this place,

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the things that you are taught here could potentially save your lives

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as well as your fellow soldiers' lives.

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That's why you need to pay attention.

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If you're tired and you're not really listening,

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make sure you buck up your ideas and listen in.

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Only those that are good enough will leave this place as a trained soldier.

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If you're not good enough, I will make you leave.

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Plain and simple.

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If you want to stand up now...

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-I...

-THEY RECITE OWN NAMES

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-..swear by Almighty God...

-THEY REPEAT VERBATIM

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..that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance

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to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,

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her heirs and successors

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and that I will

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as in duty bound

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honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty

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against all enemies

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and will observe and obey all orders

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of Her Majesty

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and of the generals and officers

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set over me.

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You are officially soldiers.

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Left, right! Left, right! Left, right!

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The recruits won't be allowed to leave the base

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or see their families for the next five weeks.

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Once training begins, they'll have limited access to their phones.

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As Ashley prepares to spend a daunting first night in the army, he's calling his dad.

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We've just settled in now

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and it's going to start getting harder from tomorrow.

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Yeah, yeah.

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All right, then, Dad. Love you, too.

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See you soon. Bye.

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I'm quite an emotional person with my family and stuff.

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Even away from my family for, like, a few days or months, or how long it is,

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it's still emotional to speak to them.

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I'm happy when I get to speak to them, definitely.

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It's just the first five weeks are going to be hard.

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Your fitness isn't as good as what it's going to be,

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with all the training and stuff, and, erm,...

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Yeah, it's just weird!

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Especially when they say "I love you, too",

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you know, you just want to go home, but...

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It'll be all worth it in the end, definitely.

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Definitely.

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Ashley has left behind his parents and younger brother in Leeds.

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For his dad, having a son in the army

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is taking some getting used to.

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This is Ashley's room.

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It's quite neat and tidy because he's not here!

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He's quite a good dancer. He'll probably be a bit embarrassed about this!

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He won that for...

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It was to do with some charity to do with Asda. He were chuffed to bits.

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This is one that he videoed himself.

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MUSIC: "Beat Again" By JLS

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He weren't in the house and he videoed it and said, "Dad, look what I've got!"

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HE LAUGHS

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I took him to the train station and I thought,

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"Crikey, I'm not going to start bubbling in front of everybody!"

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But... You know, I literally did, and I...

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I waved him off on the train thinking,

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"Crikey, he really is going now!"

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I was stood there with a handkerchief! I had to suddenly compose myself!

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I'll be honest with you, at first, I tried to talk him out of it because, er,

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I guess the Afghanistan situation and, you know...

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It's the totally unknown. And you're not just fighting,

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you've got all these IEDs and things like that.

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That's what frightens me.

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ALARM CLOCK BEEPS

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Before the reality of war,

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the recruits have to face another battle...

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A daily wake-up time of 5am.

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They'll need to get to grips with the basics...

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Do not get the blade and go side to side.

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-The sideboards are not down here, they are in the middle.

-Happy lads?

-ALL: Yes, Corporal.

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..learn the highest standards of hygiene...

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Make sure they're scrubbed inside. Get that toilet bowl clean every morning.

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What are you doing? Get out. Keep your hat on.

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..start conducting themselves in a military fashion...

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Get out and march in properly.

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..and learn about personal presentation - army style.

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Jackets - the rear one overlapping the one in front of it.

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Three-finger spacing in between each crease.

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One main crease on each towel.

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For your week-five inspection by the OC,

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your locker has to look exactly like that.

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And when I say "exactly", I mean the finest detail.

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You may think to yourselves, "That seems a bit bullshitty."

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However, it's so you learn, as a soldier, at the basics

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to get things correct to a specific detail. OK?

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-Everyone happy with that?

-ALL: Yes, Corporal.

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How the hell can you get one straight fold?

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A long way from guns and grenades,

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the first piece of hardware the lads need to master

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is the iron.

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Get your steam coming out.

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Start on one part of the top, ensuring that you keep that line.

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Use your hand to keep it flush all the way down.

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Iron on the inside, right the way up to the middle

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and then follow it down all the way, like so.

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I'm going to be here all bloody night!

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Ashley's roommate, 19-year-old Lee Howard, left school with no qualifications.

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Before joining the army, he was training to be a hairdresser.

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We're all getting on quite well, taking the mick and everyone takes a laugh.

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We sort of help each other out.

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-HE SIGHS

-You're leaving everything behind.

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Everything. Everything you know.

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All your friends, family, everything.

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I haven't even spoke to them, really, today.

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I wanted to get into army life straight away.

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You're not going to speak to them when you're in flipping Afghan, are you?

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Lee has left his hometown of Eastbourne,

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where he lives with his mum.

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This is Lee's bedroom.

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He decided to pack the day before he left,

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so it was just a mad panic.

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And he's left his pink socks and pants behind! Look!

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He got this for Christmas and the dog chewed it up a bit. He doesn't know about that.

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And...

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-He got that for Christmas? Not this Christmas?

-Yes.

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It was Saturday.

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He did a load of shopping and did his packing, so that's what kept him occupied.

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And then on the Sunday morning, he was just crying the whole time.

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And at the station.

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Lee isn't Donna's only son who's in the army.

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Her eldest, Chris, has already done a tour of Afghanistan.

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Chris didn't tell me anything.

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In fact, he rung me on the Tuesday night

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and said it was really quiet over there and not to worry,

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because I was constantly worried all the time,

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and Thursday morning, he got blown up.

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Two people from the army showed me their warrants

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and they said, "Are you the mother of Christopher Howard?" That was it, I just fell to pieces.

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They said he'd been very seriously injured.

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And, erm, I was like, "Are you sure he's not dead?"

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I was like, you know, desperate.

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I was thinking, "Perhaps they're not going to tell me he's dead."

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They said, "No, but he's very, very seriously injured.

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"He's lost a hand and a leg."

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Chris is currently recovering in an army rehab facility.

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Donna's concerned the same might happen to Lee.

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You get married and your husband has an affair,

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it doesn't mean the next one will. D'you know what I mean?

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Or if you have a child with Downs Syndrome, doesn't mean the next baby's going to be.

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You can't live like that because you just won't move on.

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Lee's 19, he's an adult.

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I probably could've talked him out of it,

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but who I am to talk him out of something he wants to do?

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I haven't got the right to do that.

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Anyone can get hurt. It's the name of the job, isn't it?

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Simple as.

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You sign up and you know... You even get told in your selection,

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they tell you, "This is what can happen."

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They show you pictures, gory pictures, and things like that, so it's no surprise, is it?

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He's had friends die, he's had friends hurt.

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I've met loads of them that are injured.

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Nothing's putting me off. No way.

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I'm definitely sticking out the six months.

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No way I'm going home!

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There's inspections in half an hour.

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Got to get it all prim and proper.

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Before the recruits can start to look like real soldiers and receive their regimental berets,

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they'll have to pass an official locker inspection in four weeks' time.

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Stop moving, Howard.

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Right, fellas. Boots - sort them out so they're stood to attention. Heels together.

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Is your locker some kind of refrigerator, is it?

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-What's that?

-I don't know, Sergeant.

-I'm asking you what it is!

-Piece of paper, Sergeant.

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But as the practice inspections begin, there's room for improvement.

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-You've got empty bottles in the bottom of your locker!

-That's got change -

-Get it out!

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It's got 30 bastard-odd pence in!

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Get rid of it now.

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-OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS

-Why isn't your kit in there?

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It's too much like hard work to get it bastard ironed the night before!

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Not good enough, fellas. Not good enough at all.

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Former shelf-stacker Ashley is beginning to feel the strain.

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Everything was perfect in my locker this morning, erm,

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and they still ripped it out.

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That was perfect, in a square block like that, as that is now,

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all the same size, kind of nearly A4,

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exactly nearly A4... Well, they are A4, yeah.

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So he'll come tomorrow and he'll pull them out again.

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They're just trying to break us down.

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Until week five, they're just going to treat us like shit.

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Enter the pool!

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GO!

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The most important attribute a soldier needs is his fitness.

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Keep it going, gentlemen!

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And even though all the recruits needs to be fit before they can even join,

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to be ready for combat in Afghanistan

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they'll need to be as fit as professional athletes.

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There's a long way to go.

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I didn't say get out the pool, did I?

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Ten press-ups, gentlemen! Go!

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Some of them are a bit scared. But they'll get used to it.

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It's the army.

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Kick! KICK!

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LEE: I've never had anything like this.

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It was just knackering. Legs cramping up and everything. They just beasted us, pretty much.

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That's probably the first time I've thought, "Sh... What am I doing?"

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-Shut up.

-Yes, Sergeant.

-Shut up.

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But it's not just fitness they need to master.

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It's teamwork and discipline, also known as drill.

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Stand up straight, fellas. Just come to attention now.

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Head up.

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What we're going to go through is your first drill lesson to get you to work as a team.

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Stand. Ready!

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Rifles.

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One!

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That's how little girls run, don't they?

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Drive it into the ground! Drive it in so you can hear the noise from your boot.

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-Rifles!

-THEY SHOUT

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Right or wrong,

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-stand perfectly still after the movement, yes?

-ALL: Yes, Sergeant.

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Don't be embarrassed about screaming. I love it.

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-Stand at ease!

-ALL: Out!

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Come on, gentlemen, stop the disco dancing.

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You're still moving when I'm telling you to stand still.

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There's no hiding from me, lads, I can see you.

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-Turn!

-One, step. Two, step. Three, step. Out!

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Lee, left and right, having difficulties, are we?

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-Left! Turn!

-One, step. Two, step. Three, stop. Out!

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You got it wrong!

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Left, right, left, right.

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Stop looking at the ground! It is not going to move!

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Easy, fellas. We'll practice and practise until we get it right.

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It's head-banging. I've got a headache.

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And it really hurts the soles of your feet. It kills, honestly.

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That's why everybody's moving, like that. But you can't move, you get told off.

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It's pretty hard!

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Don't let me catch you on your phones after nine o'clock.

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There's stuff to fucking be done. It needs to get cracked.

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-Are you happy with that, lads?

-ALL: Yes, Corporal!

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As the second week draws to an end,

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homesickness is starting to kick in.

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You do sit down and think that you are missing home.

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And it's... It's a reality check, definitely.

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When you're at home, you get up whatever time you want if you're not working.

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You have days off. You finish at four, five o'clock. You go home, see your friends.

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It's totally different.

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It's true, the needs of the army comes before the needs of your life.

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He looks so different. Look at him there.

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He was at primary school.

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These are primary school, as well. That was his classmates.

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Ashley's mum is hoping the army's going to change him.

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It sounds awful to say, but I think Ashley will change for the better.

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For the better, definitely. Because I think, you know...

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My dad was a military man

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and we were brought up quite... really strict.

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Ashley wasn't. We've sort of been...

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I thought,"I don't want to be as strict with Ashley as my parents were with me."

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So we've sort of maybe been a bit too soft.

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He can be a little bit selfish.

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We've all got us bad traits, but I think it'll make him grow up

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and make him realise how hard it is,

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especially for you, for me, you know,

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and an idea of what life's about.

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I think he's maybe had it easy for the last few years.

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Ashley's roommate, Darren Meads,

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is also hoping the army's going to change his life for the better.

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There's no jobs on Civvy Street at all.

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I've been out of work for nearly three years.

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I've just been working with the TA and then waiting to come and join the regulars.

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I wasn't really doing anything. Just being a bum, really.

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It's...

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It's a weird country at the minute.

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Bring it round.

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When you've done your laces, tuck them in the back of there,

0:21:440:21:47

and then with your sock, pull it over the top so it hides your laces, so they don't fucking fall out.

0:21:470:21:52

Pull that over the top.

0:21:520:21:54

Unlike the majority of recruits at Catterick,

0:21:540:21:57

Darren Meads has already done a tour of duty in Afghanistan

0:21:570:22:01

as a part-time soldier with the Territorial Army.

0:22:010:22:05

He now wants to make a career as a professional soldier.

0:22:050:22:08

That's him. He weren't very old. I think he were about,

0:22:090:22:13

er, I'd say a week old.

0:22:130:22:15

That's a school picture.

0:22:150:22:18

But that's him when he's being given his medal.

0:22:190:22:22

I like that picture. I'm very proud of that picture.

0:22:220:22:26

That's my son. That's my soldier son.

0:22:260:22:30

Darren's mum and his stepdad know more than most the difficulties you face

0:22:300:22:34

when your son's doing a tour of duty.

0:22:340:22:38

Nobody wants their sons to go to war.

0:22:380:22:42

There's always going to be wars, and soldiers to fight the wars,

0:22:420:22:47

but you don't want it to be yours. Erm...

0:22:470:22:50

So... I can't explain it.

0:22:500:22:53

I can feel a lump in my throat as I'm even thinking about it.

0:22:530:22:57

The worst part about it, every time they said,

0:22:570:23:00

"A British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. The family have been informed,"

0:23:000:23:04

I breathed a sigh of relief, and then felt guilty

0:23:040:23:09

because somebody else's child had been killed or maimed or hurt.

0:23:090:23:13

I stopped breathing, I think, from the minute he went,

0:23:130:23:18

and I think I started breathing again when he came back and he was OK.

0:23:180:23:23

Although Darren was a reservist in the TA,

0:23:240:23:27

he still got a taste of combat when the war came to him.

0:23:270:23:30

This is from Afghan.

0:23:310:23:34

It's when we hit Sky News!

0:23:350:23:38

Er, "A British soldier at the scene of the explosion in Kabul."

0:23:380:23:43

That's me.

0:23:430:23:45

I think we had two days left of tour

0:23:460:23:49

and that was when the suicide car bomber hit our camp.

0:23:490:23:54

There was 94 wounded. Guys lost limbs.

0:23:540:24:00

Erm...

0:24:000:24:02

Out of the nine people that died, I think there was three soldiers.

0:24:020:24:08

Emotional day, that was. Big time.

0:24:100:24:13

A lot of innocent people got killed, Afghan people got killed

0:24:130:24:17

and injured, and things like that.

0:24:170:24:19

That was probably the worst day of my life.

0:24:190:24:22

Beveridge, Cresswell.

0:24:320:24:35

And the last one, Milligan.

0:24:370:24:40

Up until week 12 of training, the recruits have the right

0:24:400:24:43

to discharge themselves and leave the army.

0:24:430:24:47

-Send him in, please.

-Yes.

0:24:470:24:50

However, once those 12 weeks have passed,

0:24:500:24:53

they are then committed by military law to serve Queen and country

0:24:530:24:56

for a minimum of four years.

0:24:560:24:59

So the recruits have to be sure the army is for them.

0:24:590:25:02

"Sir, I am 30124880, Private Cresswell,

0:25:020:25:06

"and I wish to drop out of my army training because I feel like I am not ready

0:25:060:25:11

"as I am not old enough, and this could affect others."

0:25:110:25:14

Three weeks into basic training, and as the course starts to get more intense,

0:25:150:25:19

more recruits are wanting to quit.

0:25:190:25:22

If you leave, what are you going to do?

0:25:220:25:25

If it was me and I had two kids, I wouldn't want to sign on the dole at 40-fucking-pound a week.

0:25:250:25:31

That's what I came in here for, to have a good career for myself.

0:25:320:25:36

You haven't given it a fucking chance. You struggle. So what?

0:25:360:25:39

You double your efforts and get it right. You stick at it and you pass.

0:25:390:25:43

You don't just give up...

0:25:430:25:45

..and go in a strop because you don't pick things up straight away.

0:25:450:25:49

You show a bit of fucking grit. You're a fucking Jock.

0:25:490:25:53

'For some of them, it's just like last-chance saloon because of the way the country is.'

0:25:530:25:58

A lot of them won't have worked before and things like that.

0:25:580:26:02

So it is a shock. They're up at half five every morning.

0:26:020:26:05

They're not getting to their beds till half past 11.

0:26:050:26:08

-Left, quick, march.

-BOY: Left, right, left.

0:26:080:26:12

For those who have decided that the army isn't for them,

0:26:120:26:15

they're stripped of their uniform and ordered to return their army-issue equipment.

0:26:150:26:20

For the recruits remaining,

0:26:350:26:36

there's still another 21 weeks to go.

0:26:360:26:40

They now need to learn how to carry their own kit.

0:26:400:26:44

It's quite heavy once you've got your two full water bottles in...

0:26:440:26:47

-And your weapon.

-And your weapon, yes.

0:26:470:26:50

It does get heavy, doesn't it, after a while?

0:26:500:26:53

Especially if you're tiny, like me.

0:26:530:26:55

When they deploy to Afghanistan, they could be fighting in conditions of over 50 degrees

0:26:550:26:59

and carrying kit and body armour weighing over 100 pounds.

0:26:590:27:04

For Ashley Cavanagh, who's worried he's too small to be a soldier,

0:27:040:27:08

he's come up with a new way to help cope with his heavy kit -

0:27:080:27:12

his mum's sanitary towels.

0:27:120:27:15

I'm using them today, I'm telling you.

0:27:150:27:17

He's only got little shoulders, bless him.

0:27:180:27:21

It's worth doing.

0:27:210:27:24

It's worth doing, especially if your shoulders...

0:27:240:27:28

Take your watch off. Take your belt off, as well.

0:27:280:27:31

Get your water bottle.

0:27:310:27:33

BELL RINGS It's such a rush.

0:27:330:27:37

Get in there! For fuck's sake!

0:27:400:27:43

-March!

-ALL: March!

0:27:470:27:49

-Quick march!

-ALL: Quick march!

0:27:490:27:52

Stay together, gentlemen! Stay with me!

0:27:530:27:57

Stop making girly noises!

0:27:580:28:01

Why the fuck have you got a jumper on and a vest?

0:28:010:28:04

Get your kit on! Get it on! Get a move on!

0:28:040:28:07

All of your kit! You, all of your kit!

0:28:070:28:10

Hurry up! Don't piss me about, gentlemen!

0:28:100:28:13

Get on your belt buckles, not crawl! Let's go!

0:28:130:28:19

Switch on, gentlemen. Let's go!

0:28:190:28:22

Don't give in. Don't give in.

0:28:220:28:25

He's losing a lot of blood! Let's go!

0:28:250:28:27

Get in the water! Now!

0:28:290:28:32

Don't fucking stop! You wouldn't stop on the battlefield! Come on, a bit of aggression!

0:28:320:28:38

The recruits have to be pushed like never before

0:28:380:28:41

-to try to prepare them for the physical demands of Afghanistan...

-Let's go!

0:28:410:28:45

..and turn them into fighting machines.

0:28:460:28:49

Go! Go!

0:28:490:28:50

It's ace!

0:28:510:28:53

Down the hill in a chair!

0:28:530:28:55

Whilst the sanitary towels are working for Ashley,

0:28:550:28:58

ex-hairdresser Lee is struggling with the intensity.

0:28:580:29:02

Pitch up and cool down. Well done.

0:29:020:29:05

Have a bit of grit determination to carry on when you're fucked.

0:29:100:29:14

Well fucking done.

0:29:140:29:17

Well done. All right?

0:29:200:29:22

-Everyone find that hard?

-ALL: Yes, Sir.

0:29:220:29:25

BACKGROUND CHATTER

0:29:250:29:27

I was struggling.

0:29:270:29:28

ASHLEY: I enjoyed that, me.

0:29:310:29:33

He went, "Bit of aggression" and I went "Rrrgh!"

0:29:330:29:36

It were good. I proper enjoyed it. But because I'm so small, it was hard to pick people up.

0:29:370:29:43

-You've got to stop saying, "I can't do it."

-I did it!

0:29:430:29:46

I picked him up and I'm proud of myself. I didn't think I'd be able to do it.

0:29:460:29:51

I'm happy. I'm really happy. I enjoyed that thoroughly.

0:29:510:29:55

I've been waiting to actually do something.

0:29:550:29:57

Plus, that's getting your fitness up for your PFA.

0:29:570:30:00

And when I leave here in five weeks, I go home, big muscle man for Lauren!

0:30:000:30:05

We had the biggest lad, six foot three, and we were trying to drag him!

0:30:050:30:09

Still smashed it, though. I'm fucking proud of that.

0:30:090:30:12

I can take my fanny pads out now! BACKGROUND CHATTER

0:30:120:30:17

Do you want me to show you them? BOYS LAUGH

0:30:170:30:21

Agh! Fuck! That hurts!

0:30:210:30:23

They've expanded, look! Eurgh!

0:30:230:30:25

-Minging.

-Oh, man!

0:30:250:30:27

Whilst Ashley is upbeat about his new life as a soldier,

0:30:270:30:30

Lee is finding it difficult to adjust to army life

0:30:300:30:34

and is calling his mum for some moral support.

0:30:340:30:37

This is a difficult one, mate.

0:30:370:30:41

I mean, you don't get no freedom here.

0:30:410:30:44

You get told what to do, when to do it,

0:30:440:30:48

and if you don't abide by the rules, you get beasted.

0:30:480:30:51

Either that, or you're running all night, every night,

0:30:510:30:55

until they think...

0:30:550:30:57

..until they think, "Yeah..." or, like, when to stop.

0:30:570:31:01

Former tiler Andrew Forti is starting to lose patience with his fellow recruit Lee.

0:31:040:31:10

He just forgets most of the things that he's been taught really.

0:31:100:31:16

-He can't retain information, can he?

-Yes.

0:31:160:31:19

I don't think that, I think he gets in his own little world

0:31:190:31:22

and, er, just forgets everything.

0:31:220:31:25

I have no idea who you're talking about!

0:31:250:31:27

You don't mind helping people out,

0:31:290:31:32

but when it's constantly the same things over and over,

0:31:320:31:36

it can get a bit frustrating.

0:31:360:31:39

I think he's here for the wrong reasons.

0:31:390:31:43

When you say, "Why are you here, Lee?"

0:31:430:31:46

he's like, "For my brother." You should be here for yourself.

0:31:460:31:50

'If he thinks he's shit, he shouldn't be here.'

0:31:510:31:55

Lee's brother, Chris Howard,

0:31:580:32:00

was four months into a tour of Afghanistan

0:32:000:32:03

when one morning, on a routine patrol,

0:32:030:32:05

he stepped on an improvised explosive device,

0:32:050:32:08

or IED.

0:32:080:32:10

When an explosion goes off, you feel the force of it first.

0:32:140:32:19

It's like a wave, a shockwave.

0:32:190:32:22

Like any explosion, you'll feel the shockwave before you hear it.

0:32:220:32:26

And I felt a shockwave

0:32:260:32:28

and then it went all black in the background, like, everything else.

0:32:280:32:33

Because obviously, all the dust kicks off,

0:32:330:32:36

you don't know what injuries you've got yet.

0:32:360:32:39

Obviously, my right hand, I lost three fingers, well, three-and-a-half fingers.

0:32:390:32:45

I've still got my thumb and a bit of my palm.

0:32:450:32:48

I lost half the hand.

0:32:480:32:50

I've got a fixed wrist now, so I can't bend it.

0:32:500:32:54

And that's it really. That's all my injuries.

0:32:550:32:59

I was quite lucky, really, compared to some others.

0:33:000:33:05

I was 18. He was 16.

0:33:070:33:09

He was doing hairdressing. I couldn't ever see him joining the army, personally.

0:33:090:33:15

He's not strong in the head, if you know what I mean. He's, er...

0:33:150:33:19

Not being horrible to him, but he's always had Mum there.

0:33:190:33:24

-40.

-Yes?

-Can you come and show me how to do these trousers, please?

0:33:240:33:29

CHRIS: He's not had to look after himself.

0:33:290:33:32

He's not had to stand up for himself at all.

0:33:320:33:35

The British Armed Forces currently have around 9,500 troops deployed in Afghanistan.

0:33:440:33:50

And for the infantry soldiers fighting the Taliban on the ground,

0:33:500:33:54

one of the most important pieces of equipment they carry is their rifle.

0:33:540:33:59

To be fit for duty, the recruits have to know it inside out,

0:33:590:34:03

as they could be fighting on the frontline within three months.

0:34:030:34:06

The SA80 A2 is your personal weapon.

0:34:060:34:09

You must become skilled in this weapon

0:34:090:34:11

-to kill all enemy on the battlefield. Do you understand?

-ALL: Yes, Corporal!

0:34:110:34:16

Starting from the front, the first thing that we have, lads,

0:34:160:34:19

is the muzzle and flash eliminator.

0:34:190:34:22

OK, then we have the trigger,

0:34:220:34:26

trigger housing

0:34:260:34:28

and safety catch.

0:34:280:34:30

Prep for firing out onto the point.

0:34:330:34:37

Make sure you've got your helmets and ear defence on.

0:34:370:34:39

Like most of the recruits, Ashley and Lee have never been around guns...

0:34:430:34:47

-Do you have to put these on?

-..let alone fired one.

0:34:470:34:50

I'm a bit nervous.

0:35:030:35:05

It's going to be mad, isn't it?

0:35:050:35:08

I bet you when first go, I'll be like that...

0:35:080:35:11

-You've got that added bit of pressure, haven't you?

-Huh?

0:35:140:35:17

-You've got that added bit of pressure.

-Me? Why?

-Because of your brother and that.

0:35:170:35:22

Right, Detail two... GUNSHOTS DROWN OUT SPEECH

0:35:240:35:30

..three, Howard. Four, Gerrard.

0:35:300:35:34

GUNSHOTS DROWN OUT SPEECH

0:35:340:35:38

You're detail two. They're your lanes. Make sure you go on them.

0:35:380:35:42

Firing the rifle and the feeling of live ammo has to become second nature to them.

0:35:470:35:53

-Ready!

-Ready.

0:35:590:36:02

In your own time, go on!

0:36:060:36:08

You're snatching the trigger. Take off your helmets and ear defence.

0:36:150:36:20

The army needs these lads to become proficient marksmen,

0:36:220:36:25

as it could save their life and the lives of their fellow soldiers.

0:36:250:36:29

Just needs tightening up. That'll come.

0:36:290:36:31

I find the best thing to do is fire, lower it a bit, bring it back up,

0:36:310:36:36

take a shot, lower it...

0:36:360:36:38

So you're not just in that aim position all the time.

0:36:380:36:41

-Besides that, not a bad effort. Patch up.

-Yes, Corporal.

0:36:410:36:46

That's nerve-racking.

0:36:460:36:49

-What was that? That was standing.

-Corporal.

-That's when you were snatching the trigger.

0:36:490:36:54

-Remember I told you?

-Yes.

-Put it in the shoulder a little bit more

0:36:540:36:57

-and not snatch the trigger. Happy?

-Yes, Corporal.

-Patch up.

0:36:570:37:00

Thinking that... Knowing that... HE STAMMERS

0:37:100:37:13

..you will be able to take a person's life with that weapon...

0:37:130:37:17

..is crazy.

0:37:170:37:19

I think that's what happens in Afghanistan.

0:37:230:37:27

If they shoot at me, I'm going to shoot back.

0:37:270:37:29

I'd rather take his life than mine be taken, so...

0:37:290:37:33

It's been five weeks since the recruits joined the army and last saw their loved ones.

0:37:440:37:50

Tomorrow, their families will come to visit,

0:37:510:37:54

taking their sons back home with them for a long weekend.

0:37:540:37:57

But before the recruits can think about the luxuries of home...

0:37:590:38:03

-Nerve-racking, isn't it?

-Silly little things get picked up now. Things that you can't even spot.

0:38:030:38:08

..they need to pass their official inspection by their Officer Commanding

0:38:080:38:12

and be awarded their regimental berets.

0:38:120:38:15

And Lee is still slowing them down.

0:38:150:38:18

-Has that crease gone now?

-Turn around.

0:38:180:38:21

-That looks shit, mate, to be fair.

-The creases are fine. It's shit because they're old.

0:38:210:38:27

-Cheers for the confidence, dickhead.

-I'm just telling you the truth.

0:38:270:38:31

OFFICER: We'll be coming round in 10 minutes!

0:38:310:38:34

-Oh, fuck off!

-10 minutes!

0:38:340:38:38

Where's my shirt?

0:38:380:38:40

Everything is getting...

0:38:400:38:42

You're joking?

0:38:420:38:44

Stressed!

0:38:440:38:46

-I haven't got mine yet.

-Are you only having one pair of boots in your locker?

0:38:460:38:50

Are these sleeves done up properly?

0:38:500:38:53

Come on.

0:38:540:38:56

Major James Murray will be the highest-ranked officer

0:38:560:38:59

any of the recruits have met in their five weeks at Catterick.

0:38:590:39:02

BOY GRUNTS

0:39:020:39:04

He alone will inspect the recruits to decide whether or not they have made the grade

0:39:060:39:11

and deserve to receive their regimental berets.

0:39:110:39:14

It's about looking at how they maintain their kit and equipment...

0:39:140:39:18

Section! Two Section ready for your inspection, sir.

0:39:180:39:22

..and about ensuring they're maintaining their bodies

0:39:220:39:25

and personal hygiene and things like that.

0:39:250:39:27

-Good morning, guys.

-ALL: Morning, sir!

0:39:270:39:29

If they fail to pass his close scrutiny,

0:39:290:39:33

they will be back-squadded and could have to repeat their first five weeks of training.

0:39:330:39:37

The purpose of this morning's inspection really is

0:39:370:39:40

a chance for me to look at how you're living and coping,

0:39:400:39:43

and an opportunity for me to engage with you.

0:39:430:39:46

I don't want you to shout your name and number.

0:39:460:39:48

Clearly articulate who you are

0:39:480:39:51

and which battalion you may wish to join when you finish your training here at ITC Catterick.

0:39:510:39:56

Ashley is first under the spotlight.

0:39:570:39:59

-Right. Good morning.

-Good morning, sir.

0:39:590:40:02

I am 30123761, Rifleman Cavanagh, sir.

0:40:020:40:06

I wish to join Third Battalion of the Rifle, sir.

0:40:060:40:09

-Have you got anyone coming up?

-I have, sir.

0:40:090:40:12

-They're looking forward to it?

-Yes, sir.

-Fantastic. It's going to be a good weekend.

0:40:120:40:16

-Let me see. Am I going to get a shock if I go in here?

-I don't think so, sir.

0:40:160:40:20

I'm pretty confident.

0:40:200:40:22

Pretty good.

0:40:220:40:23

Morning, sir. I am 3006678, Rifleman Forti,

0:40:230:40:28

wishing to join the Fourth Battalion of the Rifle, sir.

0:40:280:40:30

-Clearly enjoying yourself.

-Yes, sir.

0:40:300:40:32

-Has he always got that big smile on his face, Corporal?

-All the time.

-Good.

0:40:320:40:37

-What are your plans for the weekend?

-Er, spending it with my mates, sir.

0:40:370:40:42

-OK. When you pass.

-Hopefully, sir. Yes, sir.

0:40:420:40:45

-Are you confident with your job?

-As confident as I can be, sir.

-Good.

0:40:450:40:49

-My brother's in the Second Rifles

-Is he?

-Yes, sir.

0:40:490:40:52

-How long's he been touring?

-Er, three years, sir.

-OK.

0:40:520:40:57

-Did he do the last tour?

-Yes, sir. He was injured, sir.

0:40:570:41:01

OK. I heard about him. That's right.

0:41:010:41:03

You've already demonstrated that you are displaying a degree of confidence.

0:41:030:41:09

I want you to continue with that, but at no stage become cocky.

0:41:090:41:12

Be articulate, but don't be arrogant.

0:41:120:41:16

And what I want you do to is start becoming comfortable around rank.

0:41:160:41:20

And in so doing, I'm sure that you will develop as confident young rifleman.

0:41:200:41:24

OK? That was a good effort. A genuinely good effort. Well done to all of you.

0:41:240:41:28

-ALL: Thank you, sir.

-Good. Thanks, Corporal.

0:41:280:41:33

-Thank you, guys.

-ALL: Thank you, sir.

0:41:330:41:35

-Good effort, guys.

-Thank you, sir.

0:41:350:41:37

-Smashed that, didn't we?

-Well done, guys.

-Thank you, sir.

0:41:410:41:45

They'll now receive their regimental berets,

0:41:470:41:50

the first milestone in their army careers.

0:41:500:41:53

They're no longer the new recruits on the base.

0:41:550:41:57

You don't just get given this. It requires five weeks of really hard work.

0:41:570:42:03

I know you've faced a lot of challenges along the way.

0:42:030:42:05

Very richly deserved. Well done. Wear that with pride.

0:42:050:42:09

Congratulations. It doesn't come easy, does it?

0:42:090:42:12

They'll be treated with more respect,

0:42:120:42:15

have more freedom around the barracks,

0:42:150:42:18

and start to look like real soldiers.

0:42:180:42:21

-Fantastic. You look like a soldier already.

-Thank you, sir.

0:42:210:42:24

Good man. Congratulations. Well done.

0:42:240:42:27

As soon as you've got this beret on, you feel like you're starting then, starting the real work.

0:42:270:42:33

Wear it with pride. Well done.

0:42:330:42:37

-Morning, sir.

-How are you?

-Fine, sir. Good.

-Let's get it off.

0:42:380:42:43

'I've never been motivated to do anything with my life

0:42:440:42:47

'before I started to think about joining the army.'

0:42:470:42:50

-Well done.

-Thank you, sir.

0:42:500:42:52

I couldn't really be bothered looking for a job

0:42:550:42:57

and I've kind of let my family down, I think,

0:42:570:43:01

in the last few years.

0:43:010:43:04

That's why I want to do this, not just for me, but for them, as well.

0:43:040:43:09

For Ashley's family, it's been a long, hard wait.

0:43:160:43:21

I can't wait to see him. It's been five weeks.

0:43:210:43:24

So it's... It's er... Yes, really looking forward to it.

0:43:240:43:29

Being away from home would've been hard. He likes his home comforts.

0:43:320:43:36

So I think coming home for the next few days is going to even harder,

0:43:360:43:41

because he's got to leave again.

0:43:410:43:43

Come on, then. We need to go.

0:43:460:43:49

Donna Payne is picking up her eldest son, Chris,

0:43:530:43:56

to make then long journey north to Catterick.

0:43:560:43:59

For Chris, this will be the first time he's been to Catterick since he was a young recruit.

0:44:000:44:05

It will be weird to see the outlook of the place again.

0:44:060:44:11

Bringing back memories. Good and bad.

0:44:110:44:16

-Five weeks - gone! Can't wait to see my brother.

-I can't wait to see mine.

0:44:180:44:22

See what he thinks of the place.

0:44:220:44:25

I'm nervous to go home! It's like GI Joe, staying here all the time.

0:44:250:44:30

But I can't wait to see my parents, definitely.

0:44:300:44:35

Look at him, he's like...!

0:44:350:44:38

I can't wait.

0:44:380:44:40

Just on time.

0:44:410:44:43

-Parents' day?

-Yes, please.

-Follow the track round to the car park on the left.

0:44:470:44:51

-If you'd like to follow the marshals, they'll take you round.

-Lovely.

0:44:590:45:04

If you'd like to go with one of the marshals, they'll take you.

0:45:040:45:08

Very excited. It's getting quite emotional now.

0:45:110:45:16

Lee's roommate, Andrew Forti, has a three-year-old son

0:45:210:45:25

and has found not seeing him for five weeks difficult.

0:45:250:45:29

He won't really talk on the phone. He thinks I've just abandoned him.

0:45:310:45:36

Because he's three, he doesn't really understand it.

0:45:360:45:39

He says, "Why does my daddy want to be a soldier and not my daddy?"

0:45:390:45:43

Blown up in Afghan.

0:45:480:45:50

-Trod on a bomb.

-Trod on a bomb.

0:45:510:45:54

It's only nine months since it happened.

0:45:540:45:58

His brother's joined, so... all over again!

0:45:580:46:03

Oh, God!

0:46:030:46:05

Now.

0:46:080:46:10

All looking forward to seeing your families?

0:46:110:46:13

ANDREW: I'm looking forward to seeing my little boy.

0:46:130:46:16

This is the weapon that your sons or family members have been using.

0:46:190:46:24

ONE BOY WHOOPS

0:46:240:46:27

Put your hand there.

0:46:320:46:34

OK, let's move on to the next one! Make sure you fetch it back to me.

0:46:340:46:40

-Do you want to have a rocket?

-LAUGHTER

0:46:400:46:44

I'm going to march you down to the drill square.

0:46:440:46:47

Your parents are already doing the stands at the moment.

0:46:470:46:51

I'll follow you out and that's your chance to speak to your parents.

0:46:510:46:54

-OK. Stand. Ready!

-Up!

-Move to your right. Quick, march.

0:46:540:46:59

Left, right, left, right,

0:47:020:47:05

left, right, left, right, left.

0:47:050:47:07

-Don't embarrass yourselves in front of your parents.

-Left, right, left.

0:47:070:47:13

Well done.

0:47:170:47:18

Where's Daddy?

0:47:200:47:23

Ready. To your right, fall out.

0:47:320:47:36

-All right?

-Hiya.

-Are you all right?

-Yes, are you?

-I'm good.

0:47:410:47:46

-Hi, Mum. Are you all right?

-Yes!

0:47:460:47:49

All right?

0:47:490:47:51

-Are you all right, Dad?

-All right, mate?

0:47:520:47:54

Hello!

0:47:550:47:58

-Aww!

-You've got a soldier?

0:47:580:48:01

Hello, bruv. How you doing?

0:48:010:48:04

I'm good.

0:48:040:48:06

Have you missed Daddy? Yes?

0:48:110:48:15

BACKGROUND CHATTER

0:48:150:48:18

Where's your hair?

0:48:180:48:20

EMOTIVE MUSIC

0:48:210:48:23

Back in Eastbourne, Lee's spending time with his girlfriend, Jo.

0:48:530:48:58

But the prospect of him going to war is one that they can't avoid.

0:49:000:49:04

-It's so scary. But...

-It's harder -

0:49:040:49:07

..somebody's got to do it and he's brave for doing it.

0:49:070:49:10

-It's harder because you've seen my brother.

-Definitely with his brother and everything that's happened.

0:49:100:49:16

-I try not to think about it, but I do all the time, don't I?

-Yes.

0:49:160:49:20

-Constantly.

-I always say, "What if something happens to you?" But, no, he'll be fine.

0:49:200:49:25

I just have to try and not think about it too much until it comes to it.

0:49:250:49:30

Yes...

0:49:300:49:32

Up in Doncaster, Darren Meads' mum and his friends are throwing him a surprise homecoming party.

0:49:380:49:44

Isn't that ace? Absolutely love it!

0:49:460:49:50

And his oldest mate, Sherry, has also joined the army.

0:49:510:49:55

We've always copied each other and done everything together.

0:49:550:49:59

If he went out with a chick, I went with her sister.

0:49:590:50:01

If we got drunk, we both got drunk and went home together.

0:50:010:50:05

Everything we've done together since we was God knows how young. Four years old?

0:50:050:50:10

Hello, everybody. MAN CHEERS

0:50:110:50:14

-All right?

-What have you done to your hair?

0:50:160:50:18

-HE GRUNTS All right, lad?

-How you doing, son?

0:50:180:50:23

-Ignore me, then!

-Sherry! LAUGHTER

0:50:230:50:28

All right, mate?

0:50:280:50:30

-I didn't think you were back.

-I wasn't.

-Have you come back for this weekend?

-I blagged a day.

0:50:310:50:36

-Fucking nice one.

-What have you done to your hair? Get some gel on that!

-He's in Germany.

0:50:360:50:41

-Are you supposed to be in Germany?

-Yeah.

-Good lad. Fucking love it. Well done.

0:50:410:50:46

Are you all right?

0:50:460:50:48

They've been around, his friends, some of them, since he were little.

0:50:480:50:54

They've been around forever.

0:50:540:50:56

They are important to him because that's all he's done for the last few years.

0:50:560:51:00

He's been in the TAs, but he's always been around.

0:51:000:51:03

They are important. More important, I think, than the girls.

0:51:030:51:07

Until he meets, I think, until he meets The One,

0:51:070:51:10

I think it might calm down a little bit.

0:51:100:51:13

But I hope not. Not yet. He's still young.

0:51:130:51:16

He's still got plenty life. There's plenty of time to settle down.

0:51:160:51:20

You've got your army friends, which you eat, sleep, you shit with together,

0:51:210:51:27

that's your mates, they've always got your back and they'll always be there,

0:51:270:51:31

that's one side of your life.

0:51:310:51:34

And then when you come home on your weekends and things like that,

0:51:340:51:39

if you haven't got your civvy mates, you're fucked.

0:51:390:51:42

This is why your civvy mates are important. Very important.

0:51:420:51:45

Obviously, I've always had that.

0:51:450:51:47

The bond that we've got, us lads, is like...

0:51:470:51:51

We'll always be together, no matter what.

0:51:510:51:54

Over in Leeds, being home for the weekend

0:51:580:52:01

has made Ashley question his decision to become a soldier.

0:52:010:52:05

When he returns to Catterick,

0:52:090:52:11

he'll have to decide whether or not he's prepared to commit to the army for the next four years

0:52:110:52:16

and go to war within the next 12 months.

0:52:160:52:20

I'm definitely thinking about it, because, in theory,

0:52:210:52:25

I could be going this year or next year.

0:52:250:52:27

Sometime next year, most likely.

0:52:270:52:30

And that's maybe, what, six months away after having this training.

0:52:300:52:34

In theory, my life could probably end in a year's time,

0:52:340:52:37

That's when I'm 20. That's what people need to think about.

0:52:370:52:40

Or I could come home with no legs.

0:52:400:52:43

That's what hits home. Nothing else.

0:52:430:52:46

-Cheers.

-Cheers, buddy.

-Cheers, Dad.

-Cheers, Dave.

0:52:460:52:50

Ashley and his dad are making the most of their weekend together.

0:52:500:52:54

It's not long until the conversation turns to Ashley's dilemma

0:52:570:53:01

of whether or not to stay in the army.

0:53:010:53:03

I'm going to be going to Afghan at least twice with my four years.

0:53:030:53:08

It's good going over there, I get to shoot a turbanator, all fun and well,

0:53:080:53:12

but it's not all fun and well when you step on a landmine and your leg's gone.

0:53:120:53:17

You've been on such a high and then you come home again

0:53:170:53:21

and you've thought about what you want to do.

0:53:210:53:24

And there's only you that can make that decision.

0:53:240:53:27

I think, fortunately, you've got a window to make that decision.

0:53:270:53:32

Nobody's twisting you arm. You can walk away now if you want to.

0:53:320:53:36

-It's not the same.

-I understand.

-I walk, I lose my pride.

0:53:360:53:39

I'm not suggesting that you do. What I'm saying is, it's entirely up to you.

0:53:390:53:44

I can advise you, as a father,

0:53:440:53:47

but, you know, it's got to be down to you.

0:53:470:53:51

My mind will be elsewhere, obviously, on not trying to get killed.

0:53:510:53:56

I won't have time to think about home until I come back and think, "Jesus, I could die."

0:53:560:54:01

You think it were bad when I left for five weeks? You were crying.

0:54:010:54:05

How do you think it's going to feel when, the day before I go to Afghan, I say, "I'm off to Afghan. Bye"?

0:54:050:54:10

That could be the last time we could see each other.

0:54:100:54:14

That doesn't bear thinking about, does it?

0:54:140:54:16

For me...

0:54:210:54:23

I'd be the happiest man in the world if, you know,

0:54:240:54:28

and not just for Ashley,

0:54:280:54:30

because I don't want to sound selfish,

0:54:300:54:32

but for all the guys, just for them to have a break for a while.

0:54:320:54:36

I just wish that, you know, the Afghan war could just go away.

0:54:360:54:40

I'd be the happiest man in the world because I'd say to Ashley,

0:54:410:54:45

"Go for it, mate. You go all over the world.

0:54:450:54:48

"You enjoy it. You build..."

0:54:480:54:51

Sorry.

0:54:510:54:53

Sorry.

0:54:570:54:59

Because I don't want him to go there.

0:55:020:55:05

I couldn't think of any worse thing

0:55:070:55:10

than, you know, being told that

0:55:100:55:14

your son's been killed, you know, through...

0:55:140:55:17

You know... You know, for what?

0:55:170:55:21

And it just doesn't sit well with me at all, and, you know,

0:55:210:55:26

I think as much as I want to support him...

0:55:260:55:31

erm,

0:55:320:55:34

you know, I don't really want him to go. You know?

0:55:340:55:39

But... I've got to leave that decision up to him.

0:55:400:55:46

-Show me your war face!

-THEY ROAR

0:55:510:55:54

I'm actually worried about his,

0:55:590:56:03

well, mental health there.

0:56:030:56:05

Stop being weak!

0:56:070:56:09

I feel like crying.

0:56:090:56:10

Next man in!

0:56:100:56:12

What do you see?!

0:56:140:56:17

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:56:170:56:21

E-mail [email protected]

0:56:210:56:25

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