Soldier

Editorial

BBC One North West

Documentaries

Factual: Real Life Stories

What does it take to be a frontline soldier in the British army?

Who has what it takes to be a frontline soldier? At Britain's biggest garrison, fresh recruits are pushed to the limit - physically and mentally. Only the very best will make it.

Series 1

BBC Three

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One London

London

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West HD

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands HD

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One North West HD

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East HD

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One Channel Islands

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Nightlight

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One Oxfordshire

BBC One South HD

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One East

BBC One South West

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One South East HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One West

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

BBC Three HD

Kim Rossiter

Mark Rossiter

Lorraine Charker-Phillips

Simon Dickson

Fran Baker

Leanne Troop

Rosie Gray

Paul Wells

Hannah Briere-Edney

John Murphy

Label1 Television Ltd

Soldier: Series 1: Episode 4

Episode 4

BBC One - Soldier, Series 1, Episode 4

From sky-high to rock bottom - infantry training continues to test the young recruits.

Can the young men and women pass their toughest fitness test so far? One recruit goes from flying high to jeopardising a place in the platoon.

The platoon heads out to their most challenging exercise to date, but there is one recruit who isn’t joining them. Pte Curtis Dryden surprised everyone by not returning after leave and is declared Awol. His case is escalated to company commander, Capt Gardner.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Pte Callum Stretton reflects on the journey so far. Out on exercise, Callum’s maturity and confidence are put to the test. He is given the role of leading his section. Lying in wait are the Gurkhas, who are charged with playing the role of the enemy. After a difficult start to the exercise, Callum tries to redeem himself and cooks for his superiors.

Pte Olivia Hall-Beakhouse is flying high. She is one of only three female recruits left in the platoon and proves she has a cool head when put in charge of protecting and leading her section. She receives praise from the training officers and a senior infantry colonel who makes a surprise spot check out in the field. But after days in the field with little sleep or any of life’s normal comforts, the pressure takes its toll on everyone, including Pte Olivia Hall- Beakhouse. Her progress is now under serious review by Lt Wahab.

All platoon members are put through their paces to see if they can meet the army’s gruelling fitness test. After an endurance march over rough terrain, they face a 2km run they have to complete in under 15 minutes carrying 20kg. Failing the test is not an option. Who will make it across the line in time?

The recruits are tested on the realities of urban warfare. During the middle of the night, they cross miles of countryside to conduct a surprise attack on an urban training facility known as Whinny Hill. Here, the recruits experience the twists and turns of fighting in buildings where the enemy conceal themselves and take aim from on high. Complex tactics are put to the test as they must hunt out the enemy amongst the civilians. At the end of the exercise, all eyes are on those that have underperformed. Who will make it through to the final stage of training?

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Soldier

Series 1

Episode 4

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One North West

About BBC One