Bad Lads Army
 

I love this programme it ones of my favourites. A new series is due for starting on Tuesday evening. Looks like we've got a yokel lad in the programme
http://www.lancashireeveningtelegrap...ns_tv_army.php

I wonder how he will fair against the other bad lads of the country and whether he will actually last the course?

The best bit is when you've followed these lads ups and downs for 8 weeks and they make it to their Passing Out Parade, I swear I'm in tears everytime! :o

There is never a follow up to this programme though, on the lines of a 'where are they now' type programme. It would be great to see if the lads that appeared to have turned their life around and realised the errors of their ways whilst on the show, have actually gone on to do something meaningful with their lives.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I've enjoyed the previous series but, being a contemporary of National Servicemen, having married an airman who joined up in 1959 and having an elder brother who did National Service in the army, I am pretty sure the experience of these lads is nowhere near as tough as the real thing used to be. I've seen them answer back NCOs who just.....let them. I've seen NCOs looking helpless in the face of insubordination. If my friends, my husband and my brother were to be believed, you got away with absolutely nothing on the parade ground (or off it, come to that).

Of course, these lads are there voluntarily, the army can't legally stop them if they decide to walk away. It's a good show and it gives them a taste of the discipline they're lacking but that's all it is, a show. The real thing might make a difference to them, it sometimes did in the past, but it's not real - it's just "reality" TV.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Oh I'm under no illusion that it's a toned down version of the real National Service, when all said and done it's as you say, for TV, they wouldn't get away with NCO's kicking ten bells out of them on TV which I presume would have gone on really for serious insubordination.

With most of the lads you can just tell there's actually a great lad under all that rebelliousness.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Toned down for tv and the fact that it might be classed as bullying and therefore the cowpats that go with. The "recruits2 may be hard on the street but this is a different ball game.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

erm sounds like ive missed something good

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

:eek: Have you never seen Bad Lads Army Granny? If not you really are missing a treat, it's really good. :D

Yob culture comes face to face with 1950’s style National Service, as the influx of new Bad Lad recruits will be taught the fundamentals of gentlemen’s etiquette as they undergo officer training.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I think I remember that after one of the series one of the lads had proved he could turn himself around and was desperate to join the army but they turned him down.... cos of his criminal record!!!!

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Awwww! That seems unfair but ....... if it's the rules of the army. I think I remember which one it was, was he a little italian looking guy?

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

can't remember which one it was just remember the bit about one of them wanting to sign up and not being allowed to

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Sorry Tinks can't quite get worked up about some chav who's more then likely has ruined a few peoples life with theft and damage.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I think we should use National Service/Bad Lads Army instead of some prison sentences and certainly Community Sentences. Rather than the Uni of Crime and high re-offending rates we should be giving people discipline, structure, skills and pride. Not sure the Armed Forces would want the task.

With all the dodgy deaths ie Deepcut, I think it is foolish to suggest there is 'not enough kicking the sh1t out of people' due to bleeding heart liberals. Just think of those who joined up only to lose their life and the hands of some ANTI-PC MORON.

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Give it then to a company of ex soldiers to run it. Then again that might be considered inhuman by some.

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No probs Bazf, I can see your point but I'm all for those that genuinely want a little help getting their life back on track. Some of these lads aren't in the show because they have criminal convictions, some are just social nightmares and others just can't keep their 'wotsit' in their pants. ;)

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Wotsits???

Do they still make those tasty, bright orange, corn snacks?:D

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I love this programme its really good to see the ones that stick it out do their passing out ...but im one who believes that all young lads and lassies should do a spell of forces training when they leave school ..if only basic .. think there would be a lot more respect around from our youths of today..And no im not implying that all kids are the same but a lot of kids out there dont have the respect for their parents let alone society as well

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I'd be up for a stint in the army ....... all those men in uniform :rolleyz8:


I said that out loud again didn't I? :unsure8:

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

i do agree with you cherokee it would do them all good

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:D how did i guess youd come back with something like that tinks haha

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

It's an excellent program, one of the few bother to watch when it's on. I usually go round to my nans and watch it with her. She likes to watch all those naughty boys.

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Do you honestly think theyd have you tinks? They'd be scared you'd run em off! lol

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:D Oh yes! I'd make them army boys show a bit of respect :whip:

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Or something else? lol

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i agree with you shillelagh. ummmm NOW what could tinks teach them i wonder:D :Banane36: or:drink: or:drunk: :drunk: or maybe how to shout:help: :D

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I'd show you but some of the more ... hmmm ... descriptive smilies got their marching orders (Boom boom :D) a while back ;)

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

PMSL!!! what a load of wusses hard lads my arse!!!!:p

Not seen yokel yet, but they should definately introduce this as form of punishment & alternative to cushty prisons!!!

Definately sorts the tough nuts from the weakest links & thats what these lads need is a good dose of discipline not a holiday camp!!

Sergent Nookie is brill:D like him when he does the Trisha show lol

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

It was only a little iddy biddy spider and a Sydney, what were they worried about!!!! :D

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I was peeing meself at that specially as that one didnt like the snake at all LOL!!

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Oh What A Big Snake That Was Though......and A Lovely Furry Spider

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missed it, is it repeated

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I should think so on ITV 2/3 maybe at the weekend i know they used to repeat in on ITV 2 last time so my senility could catch up :D

Try looking in tv guide on on ITV.com.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Knowing that you can up and leave when you want gives them an edge over the real thing.

However as far as the real thing is concerned there were no kicking ten bells out of a recruit in the Navy Tinkerbelle. They had much nastier ways of bringing people into line. Like running twice around the parade ground (about a mile) with a Lee Enfield .303 rifle at the slope. As you ran the rifle bounced up and down on your shoulder and if your collarbone didn’t take a pounding, which it did, your shoulder got very, very sore. Clever people, if they were right handed, would slope the rifle on their left shoulder so that when it came to rifle shooting the butt wouldn’t be slamming into an already very sore shoulder. The less cruel GI’s (Gunnery Instructors) would make a non-conforming sailor hold the rifle at arms length above the head and go for a run around the parade ground until told to stop. The GI often forgot the pour soul staggering around until someone plucked up enough nerve to remind him.

However we did have some lighter moments on parade like when one of our class (platoon) was a few minutes late for his first parade.
“Where’ve you been” roared the Chief GI his face getting redder and redder and the veins standing out on his temple as if they would burst “you should have fallen in five minutes ago.”
“Why what happened” came the innocent reply.
The Chief GI practically exploded but saw the funny side of the remark and calmed down.

Misbehaviour when not on the parade ground would mean donning a respirator (gas mask) and going for a run over the earth shelters, about 20 of them – there and back. You can only just breath normally in the old style gas mask so imagine what it was like when you ran and wanted huge gulps of air that wasn’t there. One dose of that torture was enough to convince me and others that misbehaving was not an option.

There was a time back in the forties and fifties harwood_red where the alternative to being sent to Borstal was joining the army. Nowadays they don’t want criminals but people who can be taught a proper trade and how to be a British Soldier, Sailor or Airman.

I doubt if a spell of National Service would do the yobbos any good. All they had to do was to practice civil disobedience and refuse to do what they were told and that would be that. They couldn’t be forced to do anything by force. The only option open would be to throw them out after a suitable time in chokey.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

I think the above would be and is still allowed jambutty, I think it would work well.
I see your point about them being able to just walk out, but doesn't that make it harder for them. Knowing that they can just walk out, is like dangling a carrot.
Having what it takes to stay, knowing you could just give up, is more than if they didn't have the choice.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

Yeah, that's just a bad choice of words on my part jambutty. I've noticed whilst watching this TV show that the punishment or, 'beastings' as they call them, seems to be mental and physical, it also seems to be quite effective with the lads.

The thing I've noticed is the way the NCO's are one minute giving them a right rollocking or a beasting ... then the next moment telling them they'll get them through the training! Obviously they know what they're doing though because by the end of their training the lads that are left appear to have nothing but respect for these officers.

Re: Bad Lads Army
 

A bit of good cop, bad cop eh! Tinkerbelle. Come to think of it our training instructor was of a similar calibre. He would rant and rave and make us do things that we wouldn’t make our worst enemy do but it was interspersed with kind acts. Well kind by his standards anyway.

The regime will get a response from most of them because I suspect that most of the lads are not really bad lads in themselves, they just got led that way by the real villains of the street.

You can’t get them away from the real bad guys in civvy street but once in a military environment you can block the bad influence of one or two. It is well known that if you take out the self appointed leader of a group the rest will conform. Those NCO’s have one thing that is lacking in most people and that is “Power of Command” as do all leaders of others. It isn’t just men either although most commanding people are men. Maggie Thatcher had it.

Good luck to them.