The Glasshouse - Part 4

Part 4 of the documentary about MCTC, Colchester, Essex.

[@bernardswaine8340]

I served 112 days detention in the MCTC 1970/71 when it was the old style nissan hutted camp. A turning point in my life made me a better soldier. I went on to complete a full career in the Army until 1992

[@spikespiegel5878]

im curious doesnt time in the MCTC go on your permanent record?? im unsure how the british army works thats why im asking

[@bernardswaine8340]

+spike spiegel yes it's recorded on your unit record sheet throughout your military career. Any time spent in detention will not count towards service time.

[@spikespiegel5878]

oh i figured as much just wanted to get the full poop from someone who has been there ta bernie

[@johnbutler3654]

what did you do

[@ericvetter7889]

The discipline is outstanding!! In the US you get general discharge! Sent home

[@taipan185]

Its a sad thing seeing someone leave before they have really seen what its actually all about. I have seen guys that were total spastics in training become incredibly good soldiers and make a good life of it.

[@tonetoobtwo]

Some just aren't cut out for the life and no amount of conditioning can change that sometimes.

[@soggyseagull7204]

I was here in 1999 for 28 days and in 2001 for 6 months, this was actually one of the highlights of my Army Career met some good lads who i still speak to today!

[@TheGeezzer]

Has it stood you in good stead over the years? Or was it all a waste of time, yours and theirs?

[@normanborisspiderlonglegs1280]

@Toby Lerone 9 months December 94 until June 95

[@mattyallen3396]

What got you 6 months?

[@andymat7359]

My 4 months served of my 6 month sentence were hard, but looking back were good for the body and mind, the boredom of mindless tasks in everyday life is what sent us mad, most of us turned to drink etc because our seniors were too lazy to keep us entertained and keen. Sweeping an already swept floor or painting Allen keys were the best that unimaginative NCO minds could come up with.

[@imgoinghunting9768]

I enjoyed watching this. Especially from this era

[@steven2459]

thanks for the upload been after watching this again for a long time

[@JimCTSCLO]

Excellent documentary.

[@robertharrison4967]

Being in the Armed Forces is all about having the right frame of mind, if you have it you can take anything they can hand out and more. During basic training two lads decided they wanted out, as was their right, but it was not made easy for them. On each occasion they were called to the front of the intake by the drill instructor and had to endure something along the lines of the following, "Now here we have private Johnny who told everyone at home and work that he was joining the Army and now he is going to have to face them and say he couldn't take it, and I guarantee you he will regret it for the rest of his life." I joined to get away from the life I had so found it difficult to understand why anyone would want return to their old life although I am sure the humiliation would have made some think twice. Joining was the best thing I ever did and am so grateful to have had the experience.

[@catherinecrafts]

Thanks for uploading the video.

[@K9OutdoorsSearchTeam]

Just finished watching all four episodes, what surprised me was The Glasshouse regime and daily life was exactly the same as the place I trained as a 16 year old Junior Leader at Shorncliffe Barracks, Kent in the 1970's. We trained for a year at that place, beastings, room parades, show parades, more beastings, an RSM that hated every living soul.....the best times of my life though. Sadly it was closed down because of reports of bullying and harsh treatment of boy soldiers.

[@jonathanpipe8249]

Same as junior leaders regt royal engineers at old park barracks dover in 76.

[@wyrdwulf]

Haha too right! I did my school ‘work experience’ at Shorncliffe aged 14.....organised by myself and OK’ed by the Royal Anglian Regt headquarters in bury st Edmonds..I just wrote to them as an army cadet and said can I come to do my work experience there and they obviously thought ‘this kid must be tough enough for this’. We ( me and best mate) joined a platoon at week 6 for two weeks and they didn’t really go easy on us just cos we were cadets...in fact most training staff had no idea we weren’t joined up but school kids. I remember being on company parade and we were the only ones out of hundreds on parade without head dress as we had berets and not crap hats so just didn’t wear them, of course the RSM wanted to beast me and asked where is is it son? I nearly shat myself but he was nice as pie when I stuttered out that we were only cadets in work experience and not dressed incorrectly sir!!! 😬

[@Biffo1262]

Show parades and beating was and still is part of fire service life. Quite frankly you risk your life or serious injury on a daily basis on duty. Our enemy is sneaky. It bites you in the arse when you least expect it. Fire and smoke have no feelings and there is no surrender. You beat it or it beats you hence the strict discipline. You have know what your limits are and to never let down your team. They trust you and you trust them or you fail with disastrous consequences. We had one guy on training school jack it in saying he thought the army was bad but basic fire training was worse. I don't know who the hell recruited him or what he was expecting after four days but I was happy to run him to the station to catch his train home.

[@David80081]

I was in colchester in the 60s and it was no holiday camp like today , we got one £1and 6 pence when got out and a travel pass that was it . I did 184 days that I will never forget .

[@dennisadams1993]

My dad was in the glasshouse a few times he served in the kings troop and the paras in ww2 involved in operation market garden holland, but he did not like yanks and canadians so fighing was his downfall RIP DAD XXX

[@formhubfar]

The British army was the best years of my life.

[@clarissamcpigeon7857]

If Private Wright was based at Pirbright and had only been in the Army for 2 months 25 days, that means she was barely out of basic training and her military career had only just started. I think she probably went on to become one of life's losers.

[@harryplummer6356]

In think Clarissa many people at that age don't really know what they want to be. I hope life treats her well but I tend to think to think nyou are right. Hopefully, I am wrong and she is able to turn things around. Cheers.

[@jameslee7535]

I know an ex defence guy he just can't accept being told what to do ! it's happened in every job he's had private or government ! he's failed to complete three university courses ! that could have been offered to someone more deserving !

[@threestepssideways1202]

Basic training is itself 2 and a half months, or at least it was in my time, which was at time of filming. So it seems she went straight to MCTC after really basically having only done 2 to 3 weeks in basic. That has to be up there with the fastest incarcerations in British military history. Most malcontents, sick, lame and lazy just get sent to the biff troop (or unit equivalent) prior to admin discharge. I find myself agreeing with CPO at the end of this piece, you can't help motivate some folks.

[@PeterNgola]

Mrdaniels1976 How sure are you that this is her? How common Is the name Wright in the UK???

[@SBCBears]

@@mrdaniels1976 Very similar, but I don't think that's her. The eyebrows, teeth, lip thickness don't match. Not easy or inexpensive things to change.

[@AudieHolland]

For comparison with old times, watch "The Hill (1965)"

[@pwareham61]

The Hill makes the glasshouse look like a holiday camp.

[@duncancallum]

That movie certainly showed one the brutality of British military punishment . The movie was simply brilliant .

[@garc0113]

Excellent movie

[@iansoutryer3189]

Interesting period atmosphere at 1:40 when they get cautioned not to talk about the Army: "You can become a target". Those were the times of IRA attacks on service personnel. I remember those days in Germany: for many BAOR soldiers is was quite customary to check their cars (namely the wheel case), in particular if they lived outside the barracks.

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

Ominous times as well mate. I was in Dortmund just after a Pads Wife was shot. All because the Lady was in a DPM Combat Smock. 30 years ago, I am looking for an update, this is form 2015, God bless her

[@Rockhopper1]

around 6 months prior to this being filmed the pads estate a mile away was attacked, a soldier was blown up outside his house.

[@travis9062856]

The soldier to the right with the red cap isnt he a military policeman?

[@iansoutryer3189]

@@stuartlawsonbeattie1411 If you google Heidihazell and Uptown_diva on a messenger service YT does not want me to name, starting with a 'T'. There's also this YT channel kzbin.info/door/CgmysQGjVEI8SfgI5kSudA and Heidi Hazell on FB.

[@richardfannin9652]

like the bombing of the LaBelle Club in Allied West Berlin in 86...was targeted because servicemen frequented...

[@ToonandBBfan]

I remember watching this as a 13 year old and thinking "I'm never ever joining the army"

[@GarethT902]

I watched it before I joined up and made note to self don't go there AND I did not except to drop a few customers off.

[@CS-zn6pp]

My friend got sent here for 60 days when he was in the army. It was the making of him. Came out a far better person than he was before. Completed 11more years in the army before receiving a medical discharge due to a training accident. All prisons should work on these lines.

[@robertotheo]

As much as we are all talking about the inmates, I really appreciate what the staff are trying to achieve, its that level of pride that resonates between them is so infectious... It really think that is whats missing today in the UK. PRIDE /BELONGING/ STANDARDS

[@bubblegumbabeface6629]

Wow... Detention in the British forces is VERY different from here in the United States. The military bearing of the forces is completely different as well. So much marching and militarism. I can't even remember the last time I had to march once I got out of training. The only bit of military drill shit we ever had to do was stand in formation and salute from time to time and even then most people didn't carre much about that, but these people are extremely sharp, I'm kind of jealous.

[@AB0VETHALAW]

Discipline always kept the British army tip top

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

BubbleGumBabeFace explains a lot. Every US forces member I ever encountered was an ill disciplined rag tag shambles.

[@jackiemartling5321]

@@Jabber-ig3iw - He can speak for himself... my unit(s) were well trained, well equipped, and extremely tough.

[@buckwheatsghettoghost4927]

@@jackiemartling5321 He don't speak for me either

[@willardjohnson3832]

Depends on your MOS and leadership. In my twenty year career I was Infantry/Military Police. We marched, drilled etc. Maintained Army standard on uniform and appearance. Trained constantly.

[@Fosh192]

After sentencing the regimen of MCTC seems harsh but for those who are continuing in the services, it's nothing a normal serviceman wouldn't be expected to do if re-trained after a period where their personal self-discipline fell short of the mark. Funnily enough with that 6% re-offending rate there comes another upside to the equation, the re-education and re-direction of a lot of these wayward souls works. Roughly 70% of the servicemen who return to their units become more effective and gain quicker promotion because of what they have learned and the corresponding rise in standards. You'll find that a good proportion of the Warrant officer ranks in all three services have spent time at Colchester at some time early in their careers.

[@lapinrigolo]

Statistics to prove that?

[@Fosh192]

I no longer have access to the statistics as I'm no longer serving, but it's all part and parcel of the Adjutant General's Corps information and human resource management system JPAC which if I were still serving is restricted access, so I suppose you'll have to treat this as apocryphal, but believe me, it works..

[@davereynard]

I saw that in my reg. Those returning from Colly turned themselves completely around and, in a good number of cases, earned promotion one way or another. I was always amused that many of those returning went straight into the guardroom as RP's - tricks of the trade and all that! I only ever saw the outside of the place fortunately - escorting a SUCA there after his repeat AWOL's. Again though, he turned round and became a thoroughly useful and dedicated soldier.

[@bigjohn697791]

I had to take a good mate of mine to Colly for AWOL. He Came back a good lad got his head down, and made SGT before me although, I was a rank ahead of him at the time. so I agree in some cases it really does turn guys around in a good way.

[@Primetome]

Be interesting to hear from Pte Wright now and hear what she has to say upon great reflection. I hope she did well in life.

[@nottmjas]

Saw this programme and she's the one individual stood out, for the wrong reasons. She would be in her late forties by now.

[@gordontaylor5373]

@Gabriel Arthofer I would think they would be. And he probably did do what she said he did to her.

[@garethbertram3195]

I bet those who got themselves kicked out would have been kicking themselves in the following months after.

[@SopwithTheCamel]

Bloody nonsense.

[@warrenthomas3168]

Nah would they fcuk

[@davidmoomoo]

No I didn't

[@cityboy9301]

I did 28 days in mctc in 1992. I recognize some of the staff there so this must be from that era... Tough regrime and a total shock to the system. But i also did a jmqc (junior military qualification course) for 28days just after ....which made Colchester seem like a doddle..

[@jameslee7535]

I think it was 1993

[@kingmany1]

JMQC? Is that like promotion course

[@cityboy9301]

@@kingmany1 hello bud.yeah a jmqc is the course you take to qualify for Lance corporal..it's like basic military training all over again..only this time you're being taught how to teach... pressure from day one all the way through to day 28... I did mine in January in the snow in catterick..

[@geezerp1982]

what for ? beating the shit out of civilian whilst pissed ??

[@kevinadamson5768]

@@cityboy9301 I did my nco, s cadre course in the middle of summer for 6 weeks and it was far harder than basic training, I lost 2 stone in that time but on reflection was the best course I ever did in the army. That was in 1988 and only half the course passed it. There was an end of course piss up and only 2 diehards turned up for it, the rest of us went to sleep for 2 days.

[@SopwithTheCamel]

The officers are at the bottom of the pile. The posting is the end of the road for them.

[@Trek001]

Not always... Some of them get posted to Colly to make up the numbers if there's a wave of illness. Mate of mine liked his short spell there (as Staff) so much that he got ReAssed back there three times.

[@philhughes3882]

Jesus, that's a bleak prospect. Turning up for work at THAT place every day, knowing you've reached the top of your ladder?

[@edwardodonnell6857]

We want young soldiers to learn from their mistakes and continue on to become better soldiers.No system is perfect and I’m sure it must be frustrating for the training staff dealing with manipulating individuals or immature individuals it will inevitably have a negative impact.I personally don’t agree with the constant beasting of trainees I’m pleased to see that the new system focuses on the rehabilitation of the offender who hopefully will continue their military carrear.

[@matthewflanagan9097]

"She's not cut out for the armed forces" says the chief wren whose never been to sea

[@chrismc410]

They still call women WRENs there? If memory serves, that officially stopped being a thing in the 90s though the Royal Navy had been slowly and surely integrating women into the regular Navy well before then. Any accuracy or more information is most appreciated.

[@robinblyth5342]

@@chrismc410 WRENs is still slang for females in the RN.

[@francessweeney2308]

Wright didn't want to co-operate, no matter what help or support she was given to turn herself around; it was never right and nothing was ever her fault. You could hear the frustration in CPO Collins' voice, she and RPO Morgan had tried so hard to get her to herself around and back to Pirbright to complete her recruit training. However,after seeing her proficiency and conduct reports it was decided dispense with her services and focus on the women in F Section who want to be rehabilitated.

[@PeterNgola]

Fuck me mate where you there with her then???

[@iansoutryer3189]

@@mrdaniels1976 The name and the age may be right. But look at the photo: it's not her. Pvt. Wright has a short nose, a kind of stub nose. And the ears do not match either. Let's hope Pvt. Wright is enjoying life, happily married and a mother and will break into a smile when she watches this old documentary.

[@DirigiblePlum69]

Can they send you there if you havnt finished basic? That's crazy.

[@tonyclough9844]

Pvt wright has failed at everything shes done in her life, and I am sure shes still failing now.

[@grahamdobson7428]

As a ex, army I have no words. Of what I have just seen...😮😮

[@louisavondart9178]

Former NZ Army here. Basic training sorted out the losers before their Passing out Parade. If, later on, someone messed up, they got sent to Ardmore Miltary Prison. Two weeks in the place was enough for anyone to learn not to mess up again. I never messed up but those who had, shared a horror of the place. They didn't try to reform you but to make your life an absolute misery.

[@cghs97]

Never spent any time in glass house myself but even in this video the difference between way the blokes are treated compared to chicks is shocking lol

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

I love it, this is Old School at it's best, especially when they are on parade and the RSM or CSM (Sergeant-major) shouts "ANY COMPLAINTS - STEP FORWARD!" Ha ha they have it sussed here 100% as WHO in their RIGHT MIND would see fit to COMPLAIN? No one, Get some in!!! Brilliant documentary, although I feel for Private Wright as she has no place in the army and she is trying. I hope she is doing okay in Civvie Street and for all of those out there who "KNOCK HER" she bloody gave it her best and being shy and rather feminine does not bode well for someone in the forces and sadly the Army lets itself down here. Respect to all who serve, you know your NUMBER!!! Cheers one and ALL.

[@digs1223]

She wasn't suited to the army, but adjusting the army to fit people like her is ridiculous. I see no reason whatsoever to have women in the military at all.

[@smudger746]

I was never a guest of this fine establishment but did a few escorts there. Even as prisoner escort we got beasted from the front gate to the guard room where they first get processed.

[@AudieHolland]

Haha, I noticed it in the documentary. Those poor escorts had to do the entire procedure with the prisoner and then they had to turn and face him during the entire interview, then quick march back again.

[@amimrie]

True, i did it once too.

[@edwardbrown3308]

6% v 50% sounds very good but remember that those at Colchester had firstly volunteered to be in the services, secondly had already been through a stiff interview, physical, mental and medical examinations and thirdly gone through at least basic training which is not easy by modern civilian standards, So perhaps the commanding officer's ratio should be put into perspective.

[@robraver]

what do I get from this series? its your Mates...thats one of the most important things in life. Bet some good freindships were formed in there.

[@tomandsamuel]

Wonder if Wright was at Deepcut? RLC in the early 90’s

[@stephenwilliams5201]

I was a young lad. USA army. Had a corporal take to abuse on my person.( Didn't like my calm demeanor) he screamed in my ear 24/7 couldn't leave me regroup. One day I clocked the oraface that was making the foul sounds. he woke up. I received 15 days of extra duty. Then they seemed to loose interest in me. I stayed all of 20 years. With the offending oraface walking to the other side of the street whenever he saw me ? Go figure . Maby he got the fear of God. And the commander trusted me with the company armor/NBC sections with absolute trust. Me old man told me always stand my ground. Good life all 73

[@LandersWorkshop]

Are you an Expat UK guy? You don't sound Yankee.

[@richardhardaker4586]

Can' help but think that this regime was more likely to reduce re-offending than the more cosy system employed and explained in the 2011 posted video.

[@matthewjones9565]

I never understood the spineless little tossers who did their best to get kicked out because life in the army is "Too hard". Not entirely sure what they expected it to be. I served for almost 20 years and yes, it was a massive culture shock and took a lot of getting used to, but I also knew what I was letting myself in for.

[@paulgrahamedwardspencer8137]

Be very interesting to see what happened to the two who left the army ?

[@jordanboyle539]

Civvie Nick should be like this, obviously without the soldier/war fighting training, I wonder how many people would reoffend after a few years of this !

[@DinoPimp]

They tried that. It just made better disciplined criminals.

[@chrismc410]

I wonder which is worse: Colchester or the various U.S. Brigs/Stockades other than Leavenworth?

[@normanedwards7220]

It is unfortunate that some young people who join the forces are not cut out for a military career, it doesn't suit everyone , for those that do make it , they have bonds and memories, and friendship's that last a life time ,

[@greenrosenz]

6% recidavist rate speaks sucess. At times it seems brutal. The 18year old who smoked dope to get out succeeded. The male NCOs seemed to be bastards-...and so 94% don't return. The female NCOs seemed to be more caring..an interesting series to watch, reminded me of reading about the discipline at Etaples and the dreaded canaries.

[@Taff16992]

As one officer alluded to, you can not compare these inmates with the inmates of a civvy prison. A great majority of these characters are wonderful human beings that have just stepped out of line as regards military discipline. What is legal in civvy street can land you in jail in the forces 😂😂😂

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

Not even 2 months in the military and she was put in corrective custody? Does this include Basic training?? She should of just been discharged or never have been accepted into the service.

[@DirigiblePlum69]

She must of passed out because recruits can't get sent to Colchester military prison. I'm assuming she just passed out of basic and, well I don't know how she ended up in the glasshouse. She seemed a nice girl though.

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

@@DirigiblePlum69 Yes she does seem like a nice girl. That's probably why they focused on her for this program. I sure hope it worked out for her.

[@gordontaylor5373]

@@A_10_PaAng_111 She seemed a very sweet girl. I bet the officer did do something nasty to her though - that's why she'll have been jailed - to protect him.

[@gordontaylor5373]

@@A_10_PaAng_111 A touch naive, but a very sweet and pretty girl.

[@Oldsoho]

YEFTYITE YEFT YITE YEFT YITE YEFT YITE YEFT YITE YEFT YITE YEFT YITE YEFT YITE.

[@l8in64]

ah yeh yeh yeh,I did 28 days in a Grenadier Guards nick in Germany

[@clarissamcpigeon7857]

Notice how the NCOs are all shouting and speaking at 100mph while the Officers just kind of glide along.

[@richardfannin9652]

no more like "YUT YUT YUT YUT YUT YUT YUT!!!"

[@kevinadamson5768]

Reminds me of basic training at the guards depot in the 80,s its all a big game and if you don't play along and don't fit in then you shouldn't be there. No one likes being shouted at but most people benefit from it but not everyone is cut out to be a soldier.

[@gingernutpreacher]

Can I ask what people get sentenced for I've seen a few comments for fighting and I know a ex Sargent who would steel anything but every one seems quite on what they went in for

[@kevinadamson5768]

@@gingernutpreacher it's a last resort being sent to Colly, the Co can jail any soldier for up to 28 days in the unit nick, ie the guardroom anything more serious is usually a court martial and a longer sentence. I've know lads get sent to Colly in my battalion usually for fighting or going awol but sometimes stealing, the army doesn't like thieves but is full of them, if it's not tied down it will get lifted.

[@gingernutpreacher]

@@kevinadamson5768 my old boss who was a Sargent ( he did tell me which battalion but forget ) he found £6 all in Pond notes under someone 's pillow which had been stolen a on pay day so he slammed the bloke's hand in a door he was quickly arrested and in the cell and thought he was going to get beeten up his ( insert the correct rank ) took him in his office and said why did you not come to me first he said there wasn't time he smoothed it over but think he lost Sargent for a year

[@matthewpowell6516]

when my dad was a serving s/Sgt the married quarter next door to us had a military provost staff living next door who had 2 daughters he might have been one of those staff to break soldiers. but his daughters being teenagers used to shout at him, slam doors in the married quarters and what ever else they did. so staff at colly but just dad at home.

[@TheMrgaztop]

3 months standing on my head. Had to deal with a few knackers. But it was okay.

[@VaucluseVanguard]

I wonder what sink council estate with five kids to four different fathers Pte Wright is living on now? And yes, I would love it if someone proved me wrong and she was had made a good life for herself.

[@keegan773]

VaucluseVanguard She was playing truant from school, got herself into trouble for being disruptive everywhere else she turned up. Thrown out of the army and somehow she thinks she would make a good paramedic. God help and preserve us from ever needing her services in the future. She is such an immature specimen I'm surprised she even got accepted in the first place.

[@Mark-lj1dj]

I think if it was today she would be diagnosed with adhd or bipolar or something. Getting kicked out of sailing club for being disruptive isn't normal

[@barricadeish]

Major Yates has his own private war !!

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Damn is that 2ic related to wellington? That’s one hell of a nose.

[@philhughes3882]

He probably IS, - they're ALL related to each other somewhere down the line.

[@Baskerville22]

I wonder if the "drug use" guy would have got out when he did if, when asked by the D. Comm. if he had any complaints about his treatment, he had answered, "yes, i've a great list of complaints"

[@philhughes3882]

As he whips a 200 page file from behind his back.

[@davel831]

I was in a escort party that took a prisoner there in mid eighties. Just booking him in was bad enough and we the escort party were not guilty FFS

[@marklloyd4087]

🇬🇧

[@Taff16992]

I remember an old soldier telling me after going on orders with his Opo that a WO2 provided them a stay out of jail card and the Provost Sgt still uttered under his breath "next time Jesus Christ might be your witness but you'll still be guilty" Their crime was sloping off to the NAAFI after their SM had dismissed them for the afternoon 😂😂😂

[@kd84afc]

Right where's the army recruit page!

[@Mark-lj1dj]

3:20 wise words

[@Willysmb44]

You have to wonder whatever happened to these people.

[@jameslee7535]

does anyone know what became of these soldiers ?

[@javathechava26]

@@mrdaniels1976 age groups definitely correct big coincidence if it isn't her.

[@cabrookes363]

Q

[@Tom135]

@@mrdaniels1976 looks nothing like her

[@jwhiskey242]

Ah, the teeth of the Empire!

[@apollo8972]

J Whiskey An Empire you could only ever wet dream about. Now jog on gobshite.

[@simonrobson2293]

Funny how a lot of people are wondering how private wright is doing.I think there are some people out there like a bit of a bad girl

[@formhubfar]

Earrings in the army? :-o

[@vanpallandt5799]

Ppl cimmenting on how this 1990s? version of CMTC should be a model for civilian prisons miss that most ppl there then and now wanted to get back to units so comply..totally different to civilian prisons where parole is only incentive (and generally prisons want to get ppl out such that its rare from what i have seen for ppl to not be paroled on licence)

[@BilltheBald]

It would not be a bad thing to have this kind of regimen in our normal jails. Another good idea would be to re-introduce national service to the UK. Would bolster our defence forces, give people some discipline & teach respect for others & would also help with the job-market situation by giving young folks some real on-the-job training.

[@olliephelan]

+BilltheBald Good point , if your dealing with a mature civilised nation like Switzerland or Germany . Its generally not a very good thing to oblige a whole Nation to follow orders when shouted at , and to kill when ordered . Not a good idea for a whole Nation to be military minded . Thats whats happened in the USA (a militarised society) and they attack another country on average every 2 years. (every 2 years since 1945) Why bolster the Defense Forces ? So Iraq can be flattened for the 6th time ? Is it 6 ? It started in 19*19* (not 1991 )

[@BilltheBald]

+Ollie Phelan Being given some military training & learning discipline has never done me any harm, it has only served me by helping me be a better person, in general.

[@clarissamcpigeon7857]

Civvy prisons have gone soft. Back in the 1970s inmates were marched around like soldiers and had to salute the prison governor etc. - nowadays they literally smoke weed right in front of prison staff and nobody gives a shit. What a joke.

[@pauldavies4496]

N.S. WAS DONE AWAY WITH BECAUSE IT BREACHES HUMAN RIGHTS WHY SHOULD A PERSON KILL SOMEBODY AGAINST THEIR WILL BECAUSE THAT IS THE END PRODUCT.

[@frederickrawson7956]

as a volunteer i wont advocate national service / conscription why ? because i want someone who wants to be there watching my back

[@patriot4786]

0:00 if I was that soldier, I would be laughing my ass off listening to that command

[@martinoconnell330]

It’s like Monty Python

[@Davetg01]

lmao, she wants to be a paramedic, god I hope she doesn't help me. She could have been a medic in the forces.

[@MrSstiel]

4:40 in, the narrator mentions less than 6% of Glasshouse inmates reoffend. Is that still true today?

[@hughsonj]

The US Army could use something like this. I got busted in rank for insubordination. Thankfully, I was able to serve 21 years and retired as a Captain in the Army Reserve.

[@philhughes3882]

The British army could learn something from your's too. Unless you're from the 'right background', i.e. Old Money, you won't ever become an officer of any rank, - never mind a captain.

[@richardfannin9652]

excellent you turned yourself round...in the end only the servicemember can do it for themselves no one else...

[@nottmjas]

@@philhughes3882 stop spouting that class warfare nonsense

[@daveh5918]

There used to be the Retraining Brigade at Ft Riley. Also, most posts had their own Correctional Custody Facilities (CCF’s). Don’t know if these still exist though.

[@tightcamper]

I feel sorry for Wright. She was so out of her depth. I wonder where she is now?

[@dickxbriton7008]

I live in Colchester. As a civilian military landscape gardener, i used to look after the flowerbeds at this establishment. I was a Royal Marine Commando before this. Seems like everyday life in the Marines. But thanks, good vid. :)

[@iaintownsley8287]

Major Yates says “there not all bad lads and I would take them to war with me anytime “. 😂 Yates you’re at MCTC because you’re a reject from your own unit. You’re at MCTC to escape deployment. You aren’t going to any war.

[@unapro3]

I bet he knows the difference between "your" and "you're" though.

[@iaintownsley8287]

unapro3 thanks for pointing that out.

[@mikechedzoy4866]

They do a stint, it's not their whole career. Would you say that to the directing staff on selection?

[@iaintownsley8287]

@@mikechedzoy4866 Mike, I was DS, we were all graduates of MCTC 😊 I graduated MCTC in 1967. I completed 25 years, 18 with UKSF. I went on to serve in Aussie SF. Truly, my remarks (3 years ago!) to Major Yates were a wee bit harsh, but his was pure political bullshit for the camera. Off course there’re not all bad lads and many shouldn’t even be there. Now you have a nice day!

[@neilorr9685]

Good luck to you private white as you are a civvie now I hope you the best for your future and all the best in life 😀😀

[@coolerking7427]

That girl wont make it as a paramedic.

[@frederickrawson7956]

the army was her best chance of making a career as a paramedic discipline as part of a team and self discipline work wonders something she had none of

[@jameslee7535]

+frederick rawson who knows what became of her !

[@jameslee7535]

+Thomas 👍

[@lindathrall5133]

Jason Jones She would have to go through EMT training and prove herself to a RED CROSS MASTER

[@royradcliffe9036]

Jason Jones (

[@adeyp3871]

I wonder what Private Write did afterwards…

[@whoflungdung1046]

They used to send us Greenjackets there for good behavior

[@Simmo1179]

Yep I agree

[@karlthorne]

Swift & Bold

[@dbdb9334]

greenjackets?

[@mateofire1059]

I hardly believe 'Who Flung Dung' is (or ever was) of any 'military standing'. Look at your name man. Maybe, Uvf or UFf para. That sounds more like dung-speed. Boonie hat/dark sunglasses, and a 2x4 to guard the alley from cats.

[@patricksullivan7854]

Why don’t the people who are being dismissed just do nothing? Lie down and tell them to get lost. Go even worse. Anyone try that ?

[@JammyDodger45]

You'll get hit with further sentencing with the ultimate sanction being dismissal from the service but then having to serve your time in a civilian prison. So you'd end up in a much worse situation than you started.

[@Michael-qx3is]

@@JammyDodger45 If anything Prison will be a Holiday Camp compared. I did MCTC in 1982 when it had the old style Nissan huts with a stove in the middle. The RMP staff did nothing but ‘beast’ us constantly..I hear its changed now and more relaxed ,more about rehabilitation than punishment.

[@geordiewishart1683]

If you refuse to soldier then your time doesn't count and you will end up spending more days there, unpaid. You would only go to a civilian jail potentially if your offence was an actual crime, as opposed to an infringement of military law.

[@A.Mardle]

The low recidivism claim was a bit smug. It only related to those who soldiered on - not those who were discharged. Men staying in the army go straight back into paid employment with a place to live and a structured environment. 100% of them are literate and numerate and none are addicted to hard drugs. Civilian prisoners are entirely different. The second point is that most military crime went undetected, or it was dealt with informally, or at unit level. Unless you went long term AWOL, got caught with drugs, or maimed someone in front of witnesses who'd talk, you could sin to your hearts content and (pretty much) get away with it in the old army.

[@martinoconnell330]

Posh boys telling working-class people what to do knobs

[@Limabelasun]

No different to 47 weeks js basic at LDD Winchester 87/88. all day every day.

[@cambs0181]

Yes I would willingly take these people to war! Yeah, dating your daughter on the other hand......

[@caseychaos5216]

I’m taking drugs I can see a parrot in my face O no it’s big nose

[@bicboibashon5973]

Casey Chaos you still high?

[@MrOzwondo]

where are the roller coasters?

[@anthonyryan9706]

Get into civvy Street and remember the bullies and then beat them up later

[@P53eud0nym05]

YUK YUK YUK YUK YUK YUK😂

[@johnrasmussen4507]

The beginning of the video looks like a monty python scene....

[@philhughes3882]

The beginning? Nearly all of it.

[@richardfannin9652]

what? A giant foot came down on poor Cheeseman?

[@jamesgilmour128]

Should try this type of punishment for regular jails and young offenders institutions the stats don't lie

[@nilloc93]

+James Gilmour i seriously doubt it would work, most civilian prison guards are not cut out to provide the father/mother figure that a sgt. provides, military prisoners are also far less prone to violence than civilian ones as, to get to the point that they'll actually get thrown in a military prison, they have allready passed a few parts of their basic training and already have a sense of self discipline. imagine the damn prison riots you would get when you ask a bunch of stuck up gang bangers to get a bed layout or to stand still for more than 30 seconds

[@jamesgilmour128]

+nilloc93 can't say I agree but to each their own I suppose , surely everyone and their dog can see that the current prison system is as broken as it can get and the statistics clearly speak for themselves, there are more drugs in the prison system than there are on the streets, the whole thing needs a shakeup , hard labour is what they need

[@nilloc93]

James Gilmour hard labor is used in several prisons which have equally bad re-offending rates.

[@tomw1825]

+nilloc93 Can you name prisons in the UK where hard labour is enforced to this extent? Also training could be very easily provided for civilian guards. As to the prone to violence it is true but the part this documentary wont show you is the ones that are prone to violence, and although never been there myself this place houses killers, drug takers, rapists all the scum a regular prison would. But if you attack them they would beat the living Hell out of you and it's close to certain you never do it again, they did the same during the national service days.

[@Fosh192]

+Tom W There's a certain level of offence that precludes going to MCTC and puts an offender straight into the civil prison system, rapists. murderers and the ultra violent don't even get to see Colchester. Certain sentences end up with transfer to civil jails to complete sentence but these are mostly to do with things such as persistent low level crime, major thefts and fraud. As for the amount of Labour, it's nothing a normal soldier wouldn't be expected to do if re-trained after a period where their personal self-discipline fell short of the mark. Funnily enough with that 6% re-offending rate there comes another upside to the equation, the re-education and re-direction of a lot of these wayward souls works. Roughly 70% of the servicemen who return to their units become more effective and gain quicker promotion because of what they have learned and the corresponding rise in standards. You'll find that a good proportion of the Warrant officer ranks in all three services have spent time at Colchester at some time early in their careers.

[@mstrwul1]

All prisons should be like this.

[@richardroberts5977]

A good advert for not joining the Army. I didn't realize people were so thick.

[@ironhand9096]

Richard Roberts you know exactly how thick people are. Your whole life has been one failure after another, people were cruel to you at school, the other kids were nasty to you, the teachers didn’t support you some teachers joined in. Your parents loved you in their own way but never really wanted you and didn’t care what happened to you. Another father once apologised for his daughter bullying you even though she was 3 years younger and your father reassured him, telling him he would have bullied you at school. Things didn’t get better after school the Army refused you for no other reason then lacking character. Your first girlfriend who used you as a wallet needed male love turning to the first squaddie she met. Perhaps the icing on the cake was when you couldn’t even buy sex from a heroin addict. Your closet friend is the custody Sergeant at your local police station who you must see every week as part of your sentence under the rehabilitation of sex offenders act. Perhaps you could volunteer for Oxfam they have actively recruited little creeps who exploit women in the third world. I remember your mother crying about what an insignificant little turd she had created, your paedophilic father who was well know to the police as being a prolific abuser but even he didn’t touch you. Normally I’d finish by trying to motivate you by mentioning life will get better, there is someone/thing out there for you but there isn’t, a life of insignificance.

[@richardroberts5977]

Private Wright was much too intelligent and civilized to be in the army.

[@BigShaun]

Richard Roberts what do intelligent and civilised people do then?

[@marklloyd4087]

If she had a problem with being told what to do,what was she doing in the Army in the first place ?????

[@bicboibashon5973]

mark lloyd It was national service, it was mandatory.

[@gordontaylor5373]

She was cute and pretty.

[@DirigiblePlum69]

@@marklloyd4087 she gave it a try.

[@olliephelan]

only 6% re-offend ? Makes you wonder if 94 % of them should have been there in the first place . But I suppose they need inmates to keep the place open

[@francessweeney2308]

The idea is a short, sharp shock.

[@AfricanLion65]

Can anyone tell me why British service personnel who are called up in front of an officer charged with an offence is literally marched in and out to the hearing at double quick time (around 300 steps a minute) ? Is there a philosophy behind it ?

[@olliephelan]

+AfricanLion65 Maybe to give them the impression of seriousness , and that the officers time is not to be wasted . ? Maybe

[@l8in64]

its to make you guilty before you go in, how the fuck can you argue your case.

[@AudieHolland]

I am rather suspicious of this. I think it is to demote them to walking muppets because that is the appearance one gives when having to march at that pace.

[@GarethT902]

It's not done anymore anyone going in front of an officer on a charge marches in and out at normal marching pace.

[@iansoutryer3189]

Humiliation.

[@derekthompson9317]

Nothing like that now lol

[@SidConlin]

Probably treated well now, not allowed to shout at the poor soldiers. I was in there for 11 weeks in 1987. Twas interesting as I was in the RAF and the dopey grunts hated us, prisoners and staff alike.

[@davidsmart8594]

@@SidConlin I was there in '87 too. (Feb.- May). You must recognise a few faces there then? I remember three RAF guys in particular, one of them called Cahill: All three were in for either ABH or GBH (on the same bloke), who was also an SUS. Ring any bells?

[@glynluff2595]

Less than 6% re offend but is that before or after the discharged element is taken into account?

[@paulbutterworthbillericay]

A perfect place to send youth of today whom have an attitude, have to adapt it to non military but, for some it could help them stabalise

[@paulbutterworthbillericay]

blackzed so True, society needs to get tough on our selves, as a nation & civilisation, we are turning out to be a bunch of fudge packing pansy boys & girls, Military could be very effective in helping straighten out problem folk, but it has to come from Paliament.

[@andrewpeake7062]

Did 4 months there from nov 91 to feb 92, recognise most of the screws, used to make me laugh having inspections from the fat raf officer picking us up on stuff when he was turned out like a sack of shit 😂

[@jonnytightlips513]

He may have looked "like a sack of shit" but at least he was not a convicted criminal or a service person who has fallen short of the standards and values of the military 🤔

[@leehotspur9679]

RN he would be termed as a walking Scranbag Never in my ten yrs in RN did I ever see an officer dressed that bad

[@leehotspur9679]

@@jonnytightlips513 His dress standard were slack and untidy Needs to inspect himself in a full length mirror

[@jonnytightlips513]

@@leehotspur9679 🤣🤣 this is not a phase one astablishment, really !!!! Iv spent a fair amount of time at sea and I can tell you the state of some of RN officers cutting about.... But his standard of dress is not my point....

[@xusmico187]

To CM and incarnate only to discharge when your have spent a LOT of money and really turned around the trooper back into a good trooper is such a waste. charge and jail? don't waste money in PT & drill. put them to work cleaning bases and city streets.

[@tomandsamuel]

Can’t work that Welsh WO1 out. On some clips he seems quite compassionate and personable, but on others he seems like a complete bully. Read somewhere he was from the Royal Welsh?

[@geezerp1982]

whats the correction period for murder in the glass house ! ? got to be some soliders in there for homicide

[@davidsmart8594]

MCTC has a maximum sentence of two years. I don't know what you'd have to do to get sent there for that long. Murderers would go to civilian prison.

[@davidmoomoo]

You do 2 years in the glasshouse which is the maximum sentence, then you are transferred to a civilian prison,

[@davidmoomoo]

@@davidsmart8594 usually refusing to soldier, ie take orders, I know this from my own personal experience in the 1990s

[@davidsmart8594]

@@davidmoomoo You're absolutely correct...corroborated by my personal experience in '87. :D

[@avid-my3ik]

U came in great bloddy good oki dok im thilthy rich people do as i say thanks a lot there all liiars its good for tv

[@annettemcchesney5508]

She was in for 2 months 🤷 what a total melt