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Signing Up at 16: Episode 1: The Shock of Capture

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The Shock of Capture

Episode 1

Episode 1: The Shock of Capture

BBC Radio 4 - Signing Up at 16, The Shock of Capture

Series following 16-year-olds through a year of training at the Army Foundation College.

Series following 16-year-olds through a year of army training. The recruits must learn to adapt to their new regime. It's physically and mentally hard, they are homesick and tired.

A revealing series following a group of 16 year old boys and girls, through a year of training at The Army Foundation College, Harrogate.

This programme charts the first six weeks of training - the hardest phase when the teenagers experience 'the shock of capture' and have to learn to adapt to their new army regime of strict discipline, early starts, limited contact with home and little free time.

It's physically and mentally hard, they are homesick and tired, and not all make it thorough. 

Britain has the youngest army in Europe, and reporter Penny Marshall wonders what it takes to turn teenagers into soldiers who are physically and mentally ready to fight, and even to die, for their country.

Producer: Melissa FitzGerald
A Blakeway production for BBC Radio 4.

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Penny Marshall presents a series that follows 16-year-olds through a year of army training

Penny Marshall presents a revealing series that follows a group of 16-year-old boys and girls through a year of training at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate

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