The effect of Phase One training on young recruits' personal and professional development in the British army

Abstract

This paper focuses on young men in the British army and their attitudes towards, and experiences of, Phase One basic training. The research, which took place in 2008–2011, used a longitudinal design. Using mixed methods, the findings draw on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 26 young trainees, and interviews and quantitative survey data with 1518 recruits, with an average age of 19.6 years. It reports on recruits’ motivations for enlisting and then tells a story of socialisation, transition and change from both civilian to soldier and from adolescent to man. Drawing on Goffman's theory of the ‘total institution’ the research is centred around two contexts – the outside training ranges and the indoor barracks. It argues that the army has a set of highly effective structures and processes that socialise individuals into the culture of the military organisation. By the time they pass out of Phase One training, recruits are in the possession of a set of norms, values, knowledge and skills, and have not only been transformed into competent members of the military organisation, but have also begun to take on and construct new forms of self-image and identity.

Keywords:

• army
• training
• motivations
• socialisation
• transition
• identity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. The study was commissioned in 2007 by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The research was conducted by the National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy, and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.

2. After recruits pass out from their intensive Phase One training programme, they move to Phase Two training schools to undergo their specialist, trade training (e.g. as an engineer, medical technician or infantryman) and then, finally, into the field army, which is Phase Two. The total programmed time from joining Phase One training to joining their work unit in the field army varies (in general, from six months up to two years), according to the particular army trade or employment and the complexity of the associated training.

3. These included the Royal Artillery, the Royal Armoured Corps, the Royal Logistics Corps and the Army Air Corps.

4. OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

5. These ‘blocks’ are generally based on a prescribed method of grouping, e.g., the trainees’ section and/or date of intake.