Royal Navy School - C4

Its an amazing documentary I love it!!!

Although I would never join the army I just love watching programs about it.

Thought there might be a bit of discussion about the programme and issues raised. No?

As you well know, 99% of people here are looking at the RAF, but I imagine rum rations is giving it suitable focus (it's not come up on pprune either).

Yes mate, I know that, but it's a programme showing a UK military Phase 1 course - there must be a few peeps on here who must be wondering if this is what Halton is like?

Sitting in the comfort of our living room, Mrs Ikky and I (both ex RAF) have been watching the series with wry smiles. Just wondering what the RN hierarchy think about it as a recruiting campaign - also wondering what effect it has on potential recruits. Does it make the Navy look more attractive as a career or is the programme a massive turnoff?

Personally, if I was at any military establishment where TV cameras were filming, I'd refuse to engage in any way shape or form and would insist on being pixellated. When I joined the RAF in the late 70s, the BBC documentary series Fighter Pilot had just been filmed. One of my crew captains (made Stn Cdr and 1*) featured in the OASC episode, but the pilots who did have the spotlight on them never lived down appearing in the series and never really achieved high rank in their RAF careers.

Can't be worse than Bad Lad's Army...

I was at Cranwell when Ewan McGregor and his brother filmed the BBC Battle of Britain documentary, think I'm in the background somewhere when they filmed a bit of drill in front of CHOM.

Funny thing is, it isn't about the Army?

Who said it was about the army?

By 'Army' did you actually mean Armed Forces, as you said you'd never join the Army?

This forum thread is about the Royal Navy.


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We didn't wander around No1 Mess glued to our smartphones in my day!

Quite a reasonable programme, although I've only managed to see the most recent episode.

Fritz, I can relate to the phys, the traditional 'shock of capture' environment and kit inspections with bed packs flung out the window as a minimum. What I can't relate to is the recruit's everyday language (male and female) and what they consider to be acceptable behaviour which they're happy to be filmed doing. I guess that's a reflection of modern British society - but bit surprised and disappointed that the DS are equally crude and content to have their personal issues (female PO discussing her Tinder account ffs) aired in public. Do they not care about their careers? Are the RN management happy to have the DS 'role model' behaviour laid bare to the British public and more importantly, potential recruits and their families.

Or is it just me?

I'd say, respectfully, that your view is perhaps slightly dated.

I agree with what you're saying, but equally, painting the forces - and the people in them - to be out of date and anachronistic is a surefire way to turn off the 17/18 yr olds it needs to recruit.

At the same time, there's probably a demand from the programme makers to show a human side. It is c4 after all.

have you considered what our potential adversaries will think about the UK Armed Forces if this programme is representative of all 3 services?

Anyone know what they're saying on Rum Ration?

Tbf, after the HMS Cornwall incident of '07 (that's nearly 10 years ago, really?!) I'm not sure a TV programme will affect other's views of our Navy.

Had a quick look, couldn't see anything about it. Didn't risk Arrse, would wager they're not being overly complimentary...

I liked the juxtaposition of the young female getting a *******ing for kissing her boyfriend and the PO searching through Tinder for her next shag.