0:00:49 > 0:00:51You look at other regiments, you know,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54like they're not really soldiers and all that.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Cos what we've been through for the past three days,
0:00:57 > 0:00:59no-one else goes through that, do they?
0:00:59 > 0:01:01And you see other soldiers, you think,
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Christ, they haven't done anything compared to what we've got to do.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08'The three-day test which separates the Paras
0:01:08 > 0:01:12'from the rest of the British Army is called P Company.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17'After 11 weeks, only 20 of the 41 who started
0:01:17 > 0:01:20'in 480 Training Platoon were left
0:01:20 > 0:01:23'to face P Company, the test they feared most.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26'If they didn't pass, they wouldn't parachute.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30'If they didn't parachute, they couldn't stay in the regiment.'
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- The first event this morning is the milling,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37the rough and tumble version of boxing where opponents
0:01:37 > 0:01:41demonstrate their controlled aggression and will to win.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43BELL RINGS
0:01:47 > 0:01:53- Stop. This is not Come Dancing, you are allowed to hit. Bell!
0:01:58 > 0:01:59- Go on!
0:02:01 > 0:02:02'What the regiment wants
0:02:03 > 0:02:07'is men prepared to knock hell out of their closest mates.'
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- The sort of thing that we do not want to see is somebody whimpering,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15crying, turning his back on his opponent and refusing to fight.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'Those judged insufficiently aggressive
0:02:20 > 0:02:23'are simply made to fight twice.'
0:02:23 > 0:02:25- Go on, drill him!
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Look at him, put it on him. Get him!
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Get him! Kill him!
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Punch him! Come on!
0:02:41 > 0:02:45'For number five, Brian Bush, things began badly.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48'And this was just a warm-up for the main event of the day.'
0:02:48 > 0:02:50BELL RINGS
0:02:53 > 0:02:57- Remember, one hour 45, ten points.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58Good luck.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03'In that one hour 45, they must complete a ten-mile battle march
0:03:03 > 0:03:05'in full kit plus rifle and a 30-pound pack.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10'Everyone had done it before, but not immediately after milling.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18'To get them, going the company commander had simply quoted Monty.'
0:03:18 > 0:03:19- Come on.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23The men we are looking for will always be outnumbered by the enemy.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25They must by physically fit and strong
0:03:25 > 0:03:28to march quickly from the dropping zone into battle.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30- Prepare to double!
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- Their life expectancy is not high and to survive,
0:03:35 > 0:03:40they must be highly skilled and thoroughly professional in their job.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44'The platoon held together for just about a mile.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52'A few yards later, the field began to thin out.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54'That early April day,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57'the temperature had rocketed to 70 degrees.'
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- Off you go now. Come on.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02'Among the stragglers, number five, Brian Bush.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:05- Come on. Guts and drive. Guts and drive.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I'm only walking and I'm going faster than you. Now come on!
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Get over to the left. Come on. Over to the left.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Now open your legs.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Open your legs!
0:04:17 > 0:04:20There's no such word as can't in the Parachute Regiment.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23Come on.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Come on.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Come on, show him what a bum he is.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Campbell's overtaking you.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35You're letting a jock in front of you!
0:04:35 > 0:04:37A jock!
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Built a wall to keep them out! Now come on.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45'Three miles, out into open country,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49'then the first testing climb, Hungry Hill.'
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- Come on.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- Come on, push up this hill.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04- You've got to double the top to join the squad. Come on.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- You've got to double it as soon as you've got to the top.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Now come on. Come on. Double it.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Come on now, all the way.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- Come on, run! Run your legs twice as fast. Come on.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21'With Corporal Danny Lyden now in attendance,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25'Brian Bush had even less cause to love the jocks.'
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- Keep going, keep going. Keep running.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Keep running. Come on. Keep up with me.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35'He couldn't, and by the next checkpoint had fallen over and out.'
0:05:35 > 0:05:40- Come on, you can't afford to walk.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42We're behind the main group.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45'Private Payne was one of half a dozen new faces
0:05:45 > 0:05:47'who'd been back-squadded into the platoon.'
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- You're leaning back.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Don't pull faces, it means nothing to me, I can't feel a thing.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55You must drive forward.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58'But because he'd passed P Company once already,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02'he wasn't on trial, he'd just come for the exercise.'
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- Come on, lean forward.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Right, sit up. Sit up. Sit.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- OK, I'll leave him with you. - OK.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Sip it, don't gulp it.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27'Four miles. At Caesar's Camp, the heat fingered another victim.'
0:06:27 > 0:06:30- Are you with us? What's you name, hmm?
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- What's your name? - Day.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- Come on.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Sniff.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Come on. And again.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41What's your number?
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Yeah, I know. Day. Day.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45What's your number?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48He's not with it, is he? You want to go with him?
0:06:48 > 0:06:49- Yeah.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50'He didn't go much further.'
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- See you at the road, yeah?
0:06:55 > 0:06:58'With medical staff and radio operators also marching
0:06:58 > 0:07:00'and ambulances within call,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03'the staff were well prepared for drop-outs.'
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- Up you get.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- I'll get on there, sir.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09- Come on. Stop gibbering.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12'The first real surprise, Scrumpy Barrett from Somerset.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15'Quiet, wiry and highly rated by the staff.'
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- If you're going to be sick, hang your head out the back.
0:07:21 > 0:07:22That's looking good. Go on.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26- I don't know what's going on here...
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- Come on, shut up. Shut up gibbering, will you?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- It's only started recently, but we have an ambulance following us
0:07:32 > 0:07:34and the weaker ones will try and bluff it,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37try and put on a show that they're exhausted and all this.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Because no ambulance follows you around in the jungle or whatever,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43wherever you are. We want blokes that can keep going.
0:07:43 > 0:07:48That 10-mile test is a good test and if they can't hack it,
0:07:48 > 0:07:54then they can go somewhere else and be in another regiment.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59- Come on, you two. Ripley, get up here. Cover off.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03'Five and a half miles. Phil Tatum is still hacking it well.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05'Alongside him, the man who in Wales had won the trophy
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'for the most improved recruit, Johnny Baland,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11'and Chris Ripley, who could do it all right,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13'but really wanted to be a clerk.'
0:08:13 > 0:08:15- That's it. Good. Keep still.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17'Then with only three miles to go,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'there was a rest point for those up to time.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22'Johnny Baland was, but suddenly...'
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- Give it over here. Drink.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31That's good. Keep a hold of that now.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Keep your head up, son.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35Control yourselves. Good.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Stand up straight. - Hang on.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42- If you can get these round for maximum, OK?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Yeah. Look at me. Look at me.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- OK? What's your name? - Baland.
0:08:48 > 0:08:49- Eh?
0:08:49 > 0:08:52HE GROANS
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- Get him to the side. Hold the weapon.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58You three, cover off, get your weapons sorted out.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Put your water bottles away. Water bottles away now.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02- Sarge, it's his. - Is it?
0:09:03 > 0:09:04- Come on, Johnny.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09- Come on, Johnny, stand up straight now. Up straight.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10- Come on, Johnny.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- Come on, you! >
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- Get that off.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20- Got any water there?
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Gently, gently.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- Come on, have a drink of water.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Sit him up. Sit him up.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39That's good.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46- Ambulance.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48'Eight men down.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52'One pulled muscle, seven with heat exhaustion.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57'Taking no further risks, the staff took Johnny Baland to hospital,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59'bypassing the medical officer.'
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- They're going to have to be able to fight in all weathers
0:10:02 > 0:10:07from perhaps minus 20 centigrade up to 30 centigrade,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10or perhaps above if they go into tropical areas
0:10:10 > 0:10:14and we have to know who can cope with heat and who can't.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18- Stand up. - Number three, Private Biddle, Sir.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- Cor, not even out of breath, are you?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Get away. - Private Ward, Sir.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- Stand at attention when you're speaking to me!
0:10:24 > 0:10:26- Private Ward, Sir. - Private Ward.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29And what is your bloody number? - 26, Sir.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- In two minutes time it will be...
0:10:32 > 0:10:36'At the finishing line, the survivors were marked and timed.'
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- Private Hooper, number 14, Sir.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- Private Hooper, number 14, Sir.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- First jock, eh? First jock in.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Double over there. Move yourself sharply. Move yourself.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- Oi, what are you doing with that bloody water?
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Don't pour it away! It might save your bloody life. Sit down.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- Great, isn't it? You get all this way to be shouted at.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10- Bush.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- No. - Campbell.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15- Yes, he's here. - Sir.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Craddock. - Sergeant.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- Cunningham. 'Andy Cunningham hadn't started.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23'His father had died and he'd been sent
0:11:23 > 0:11:26'on compassionate leave, adding to the staff's problems.'
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- Eight sick and Baland in hospital, Sir.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31So, standing for 26.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- It's nine, 26, 17.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38How many have you got left for tomorrow morning, John?
0:11:38 > 0:11:42'Not enough recruits left standing for tomorrow's team events.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46'Was it their fault? Had they pushed them too hard?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49'Was P Company itself relevant or wise?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52'What would the Colonel say?'
0:11:52 > 0:11:54- I always question the situation myself.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56I always come up with the final answer
0:11:57 > 0:11:59that it is a critical stage in our training.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03It's a very useful period where we can decide who is capable of going
0:12:03 > 0:12:06on to advanced training, who is capable of jumping out of aircraft.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10We are sorting out the men from the boys at that stage.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13We've been doing it for 40 years and we haven't done too badly.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17EXPLOSIONS AND SHOUTING
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- Come on, get on it now. Go, go, go.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29'Loyalty to your team is the Paras' central article of faith.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32'If teams don't exist, they create them.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34'The staff had solved their team numbers problem
0:12:34 > 0:12:38'by persuading the medical officer to release three of the heat victims.'
0:12:38 > 0:12:41- This stretcher race simulates a rapid withdrawal
0:12:41 > 0:12:43from the exercise area, carrying casualties.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47The route is over rugged terrain of approximately seven and a half miles
0:12:47 > 0:12:51and must be completed in one hour and fifteen minutes.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54You are marked out of ten and your scores are based on the amount of
0:12:54 > 0:12:59leadership, determination, stamina and endurance individuals display.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03If you fail to take up your position on the stretcher at any time,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05you are marked accordingly.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10If you fail to finish with your team, you will fail that particular test.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18'All three of the released heat victims, including Brian Bush,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21'finished with their teams. They'd been persuaded
0:13:21 > 0:13:23'that despite having failed
0:13:23 > 0:13:25'the ten mile march, scoring nought,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29'they could still pass P Company if, from the other six events,
0:13:29 > 0:13:33'they somehow acquired the minimum points needed overall.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42'Two of them, Scrumpy Barrett and the ex-schoolboy Graham Robertson,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46'remarkably achieved this target, then they were failed anyway.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51'In similar events over the next 36 hours, they crossed and recrossed
0:13:51 > 0:13:55'the pain barrier, but the crucial test was not of stamina but nerve.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59'The trainasium, a climbing frame with a difference.'
0:14:00 > 0:14:01- Standby.
0:14:01 > 0:14:07Stand and control your descent now, control your descent. Good.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Out to the side now.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Up the ladder. Touch your toes.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Stand up.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17Carry on. Next.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- Standby. Go!
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Stop mucking around! - Well done. Get back.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31- Knees on the outside, Ward, feet on the inside.
0:14:31 > 0:14:37Keep your arms locked at the elbow. Keep your feet off those poles.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40- Standby. Go!
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Good test. Come on. Off you go.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46'An apparently simple jump, except to another of the recruits
0:14:46 > 0:14:48'who had been back-squadded into 480 Platoon.'
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- Standby. Go!
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Stand still. Stand still. Day.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57I will give you two words of command. Standby and go. You go on the go.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Stand up straight. Standby. Go.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Day. One more chance, then you are coming down.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07There's 32 men behind you in an aircraft,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10you've got no second chances. Standby.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Go! - Come on, Day. Come on.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- Day, climb down. Day, get down.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- You've done the most difficult test of them all.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- Sir. - You've done the shuffle wires.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- Sir. - So why not the standing jumps?
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- I don't know, Sir.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27- He's also done some parachute descents, Sir.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- You've done parachute descents? - Sir.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- Then you know what it's like jumping into a void, don't you?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Do you want to go back up there again? One more go?
0:15:36 > 0:15:38'But then, high on the narrow catwalk,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40'came the six-foot running jump.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43'Much wider, especially to the tiny Shaun Day.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46'And the aggressive encouragement
0:15:46 > 0:15:49'seemed insensitively mistimed and unhelpful.'
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- Go. Go on.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- You're there, Day, you're there. - Once more, Day.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- Standby. Go!
0:15:58 > 0:16:00- Go on, Day. - Go on.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04- Go, Day. - Go boy. Go.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05- Come on, Day.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- Get down, Day. Get out.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17'There was one other recruit who couldn't or wouldn't.'
0:16:17 > 0:16:18- Standby. Go!
0:16:18 > 0:16:22- Walk along that quickly. Show us you are a man. Come on.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- Come on. Walk it. - Walk along it.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Come on.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29- Ripley, come on, go!
0:16:32 > 0:16:33- Come down, Ripley.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35'A month earlier, at his last interview
0:16:35 > 0:16:37'with platoon commander John Baird,
0:16:37 > 0:16:42'Chris Ripley had requested not to do P Company and not to be a Para.'
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- Now why can't you do it? Why not? - I can't go, Sir.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- You've done it before though, haven't you?
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- It scared me the first time, Sir.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- If you've done it once, you should overcome the fear.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00- Standby. Number three. Go! - I mean, what...
0:17:00 > 0:17:03There's nothing to it, really.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- There's something just telling me not to go, Sarge.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- I don't know what it is. - It's a defeatist attitude, Ripley.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14All right. Fall out and wait over there.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- Into the Land Rover. Into the Land Rover.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Out of sight, out of mind.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- Didn't want to know. He froze, he completely froze.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- He's already seen me though, wanting a transfer,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26so he's obviously working his ticket. Just doesn't want to go.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31- The overall winners of the pennant competition
0:17:31 > 0:17:36by three events to two were Squad 2.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37CHEERING
0:17:37 > 0:17:43'P Company was over and the winning team did not go unrewarded.'
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- Well done. I've just got the energy to lift this, I hope you have.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- Yes, Sir. - Well done.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50- Might drink a little bit too, Sir.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- I think you might be drinking that tonight.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- Definitely will, Sir. Thank you, Sir.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56'But the carrot and stick principle still applied.'
0:17:56 > 0:18:02- Decisions about your future will now be made over the next two hours.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05I will then make a final decision after that.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09'And this time, the stick was harder to bear.'
0:18:09 > 0:18:10- Private Barrett.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Fail.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Private Bush. Fail.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Private Butler. - Sir.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21- Fail.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Private Campbell. - Yes, Sir.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- Fail. Private Hooper.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- Yes, Sir.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- Fail.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Private O'Hare. - Sir.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Fail.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- Private Ripley. - Yes, Sir.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- Other than your hesitations on the confidence area,
0:18:42 > 0:18:44you have done reasonably well.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47I will see you tomorrow to discuss your future,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49but you cannot pass P Company.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52'Chris Ripley succeeded in getting his transfer
0:18:52 > 0:18:55'as a clerk to the Royal Corps of Transport.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59'Of the rest, almost two thirds failed P Company.'
0:18:59 > 0:19:03- I've had a discussion with your company commander
0:19:03 > 0:19:07about the results and of course, we all are disappointed.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Now, I think the mathematics states
0:19:11 > 0:19:16that there are ten passes out of the 26 that started this week
0:19:16 > 0:19:20and I have made a decision that has not been made before.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25There will be another P Company in about four weeks' time.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Anyway, those people who passed this week, well done.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Those people who failed or had the unfortunate of being...
0:19:34 > 0:19:38or the misfortune of being injured,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40a vacancy for you is still in this regiment.
0:19:40 > 0:19:46And if you might remember, 12 weeks ago, seems a long time,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48I took this beret off the top of my head
0:19:48 > 0:19:54and said that it doesn't cost very much,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57in fact it's free from the quartermaster's store,
0:19:57 > 0:20:01but to us, this red beret is priceless.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08There we are, I wish you best for the immediate future
0:20:09 > 0:20:13and I hope to see those people who had their bad luck this week
0:20:13 > 0:20:18ready to come back and give it another go.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Thank you.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26- You feel disappointed because of the amount of effort
0:20:26 > 0:20:29you've put into the guys, you haven't got the goods back.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31So consequently, the staff are a little bit numb
0:20:31 > 0:20:36and a little bit shocked. I mean, it does hit them as well.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40They've got these guys' careers in their hands and they realise that.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43It's like kicking a brick wall with a dirty big toe.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47'The successful recruits were quick to proclaim their new status.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50'But as there weren't enough of them to continue training as a platoon,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54'they were held back four weeks while their mates tried again.'
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- I'm pleased we've passed, but disappointed about the rest.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- Disappointed about what? - The rest of your mates,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02you know, not getting through and you've got to stay behind.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- When they were giving out the results, I was shaking like a leaf.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07I mean, when he was saying people that's passed,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10and I thought, I've got a good chance in here.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14But when it came to O'Hare and he says you've failed,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17I thought he'd done just as good as me.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20And when he called my name, I was really shaking.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23And he passed me and I'm glad.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25I'm really chuffed.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- I can't explain how I feel. I just don't know.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Confused, I suppose.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36You know, I know I can do everything there well within the times.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37I didn't do it.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Had my chance and just messed it up.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44'Further examination revealed the cause of Brian Bush's failure.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48'Asthma. He'd had it since childhood, but not told the Army.'
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- What's your brother going to think of you?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53'His older brother was in 2 Para.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58'Brian was discharged from 480 Platoon, the Paras and the Army
0:21:58 > 0:22:01'under the heading Illegal Entry.'
0:22:03 > 0:22:07MARCHING MUSIC PLAYS
0:22:13 > 0:22:16'While Brian's former platoon embarked on re-training,
0:22:16 > 0:22:21'his brother, with the Red Devils of 2 and 3 Para, went on a cruise.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25'They'd never need to fight, said the appeasers in their wisdom,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29'but the Paras in theirs remembered their motto, Utrinque Paratus,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32'Ready For Anything. Even before they sailed,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35'their silver cap badges were blacked out for war.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42'Back at depot, Britain versus Argentina replaced World Cup fever
0:22:43 > 0:22:45'as the consuming passion.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48'Rarely can such a rich diet of esprit de corps have been fed
0:22:48 > 0:22:50'to recruits who, P Company graduates or not,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54'were still less than halfway through training. And it worked.'
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- I joined this regiment because they are the best there is.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Like he said the other day, when you go into battle,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04you are outnumbered, you are low on ammunition and all that,
0:23:04 > 0:23:06so your life expectancy is about six hours,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08but I don't know, it's a great regiment.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12You're the best, sort of thing, that's what attracts you.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- But do you look forward to having a life expectancy of six hours?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18- Well, I don't know.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22You don't sort of give a damn after you've been here a few months.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25You think, so what, you know, that's what you're here for.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28WHISTLE BLOWS
0:23:28 > 0:23:31'12 out of the 16 failures plus Andy Cunningham, now returned,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35'were given a month in which to mend their muscles, or their ways.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37'They were expected to train as single-mindedly
0:23:37 > 0:23:41'as the away team, whose every more they watched like hawks.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48'But even these men from 2 and 3 Para had never fought in a war.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52'So, suddenly, not only they, but the staff back at Aldershot faced
0:23:52 > 0:23:56'an agonising examination. Would the training they gave recruits
0:23:56 > 0:23:58'stand the test of a modern infantry war,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02'or was the familiar tone of aggressive gung-ho
0:24:02 > 0:24:04'just so much old-fashioned flannel?'
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- It's difficult, I know, for you not to worry about us,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11but I can assure you, there is no need to at all.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13We are well able to look after ourselves.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18Listen to the news, both on the radio and television.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21That will give you a very accurate picture of what is happening,
0:24:21 > 0:24:25but don't believe half of what you read in the newspapers.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29'The Paras believe in themselves and each other,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31'everyone else is a crap hat.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35'In the spring of 1982 in the South Atlantic and in Aldershot,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39'the objectives were simple, the spirit and language identical.'
0:24:42 > 0:24:43- It's now up to the staff
0:24:43 > 0:24:47and the rest of the platoon there to get hold of them and
0:24:47 > 0:24:49build them back and say, come on, fellas, you know, chin up.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53They've failed you, go on, dig them in the teeth, spit in their eye
0:24:53 > 0:24:55and show them you can do it, show them you can be a paratrooper.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33'In the training, as in the war, the method paid off.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38'Most survived and succeeded, but there were casualties.'
0:26:42 > 0:26:44- Is it your ankle or is it your shin?
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Have you got all the feeling in your foot?
0:26:46 > 0:26:48- No. - None whatsoever?
0:26:48 > 0:26:49Can you feel that?
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- Now, pick him up. - Are you sure?
0:26:52 > 0:26:54- More speed, more speed. That's the way.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57'And in something, perhaps, of the spirit in which
0:26:57 > 0:27:00'an exhausted 3 Para would scale and capture Mount Longdon,
0:27:00 > 0:27:05'little Shaun Day made his last-ditch attempt at the six-foot gap.'
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- You did it. - Yes.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24- How did you do it? - I done it for Captain Baird.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- And what was it that Captain Baird did that made the difference,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29that made you go that time?
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- He just convinced me to stay in the Parachute Regiment, really.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37I wanted to, but he just pointed out to me how, you know,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39what a good regiment it was.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41- Your job was on the line, in other words.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42- That's right, yeah.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- I stayed with him, spent some time with him, talked to him.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49But his was the final thing. He had to make the jump,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52I couldn't actually push him or do the jump for him.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56- Now, he did get shouted at a lot. Was that the way to get him through?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59- No, I don't think so. Just quietly talk to him
0:27:59 > 0:28:04and let him make up his own mind that he was going to do it
0:28:04 > 0:28:08and eventually he did. I'm very pleased. Very pleased for him.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12You could see the joy on his face once he'd done it the first time
0:28:12 > 0:28:16and then the barrier was broken, and then he did that jump again
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and went straight up on the catwalk, and did the other jump straight away.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21- Now he's done it several times.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23- He's done it several times and it holds no fear for him any more.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25It was just that mental block, that barrier.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27And once he'd done it once, that was it,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30he could do it as many times as he had to.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32- Do you think he'll jump out of an aeroplane?
0:28:32 > 0:28:34- I think he will. Every confidence.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Having said that now, I hope he does!
0:28:40 > 0:28:44'Reunited, 480 Platoon prepared for parachute training
0:28:44 > 0:28:46'at RAF Brize Norton.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50'In the event, one of them would refuse to jump.'