Originally Posted by TARA

Dawn drinking parade is to start hydration first thing, you will notice that they carry their water bottles with them all day for topping up.

I gulping a litre of water down in one really a good way to hydrate? I would have thought you'd just end up pissing most of it out within an hour. Surely making them drink it periodically by the end of breakfast would be better. Or is that a myth?

Looks like its changed quite a bit since "my time" (SMC, at the Redoubt). My wife thought that it looked all rather comfortable, so i regaled her with tales of bedblocks, change parades, and trying to squeeze all of your kit into a set of wet P'58 webbing (black plimsolls in your kidney pouches, anyone?) ...LOL. Fortunately, I still have some photographic evidence of a typical room inspection...

I assume that the BBC has edited out anyone who is too conventional; I was quite struck that the intake were a lot older than the SMC/SGC of my day, yet (apparently) a lot less mature and prepared. I was surprised that some of the cadets weren't savvy enough to realise that the documentary screening would coincide with their formative period of regimental duty, and thus pour out their feelings, etc. I guess thats the Facebook generation?

Originally Posted by TARA

Dawn drinking parade is to start hydration first thing, you will notice that they carry their water bottles with them all day for topping up.

I guessed it was part of this trendy 8 glasses a day lark. I just wondered what happens to the sensible lads who'd already drunk some water on getting up. Seems alot OTT to me.

I'd probably throw up as well, I hardly ever drink the stuff.

The myth of Ruperts finally revealed. Soldiers take the polish from the Kiwi tin. Officers smear it on their coveralls prior to application!!! Who are the smart ones??? Mind you, miss speckie, would get it big time. Anyone else notice that?

And can someone please tell me why the Colour Sgt Mercians was wearing the Staffordshire Knot rather than the Glider?

Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

I guessed it was part of this trendy 8 glasses a day lark. I just wondered what happens to the sensible lads who'd already drunk some water on getting up. Seems alot OTT to me.

I'd probably throw up as well, I hardly ever drink the stuff.

Most people only reach for a drink when they actually feel thirsty, which by that time means you are already into the realms of dehydration. Couple this with frequent bouts of high intensity phys and you are a candidate for more than brufen and tubigrip.

Originally Posted by Badger_Heed

Most people only reach for a drink when they actually feel thirsty, which by that time means you are already into the realms of dehydration. Couple this with frequent bouts of high intensity phys and you are a candidate for more than brufen and tubigrip.

Oh, I know all that, I was an Army and Combined Service marathon runner. It's just that it's easier to over-hydrate than it is to underdo it and a litre first thing strikes me as overdoing things.

I thought the forced drinking was odd, however the body will very quickly dispose of what it doesn't need.

Originally Posted by polar69

I thought the forced drinking was odd, however the body will very quickly dispose of what it doesn't need.

Taking with it the salts that you do need.

It just struck me as a fine example of taking something which is obviously good advice (make sure the lads have enough to drink) and perverting it into something potentially dangerous.

The drinking water scene. You saw it happen ONCE, no context and, apparently, not repeated.

There was obviously a reason, DS don't so anything without a reason now do they? That reason may have been to ensure that a) the cadet actually had water b) that said water had not been in the bottle for days c) the DS just thought they would have a laugh or d) a combination of all.

For all we know there may have been a piss-up the night before and it was a way of rehydrating while disposing of any excess alcohol! Personally I used to prefer Amstel for this!!

Anyhoo, there will be many things which catch the Director/Editor's eye and which will be shown totally out of context and look strange to us but good TV to them.

Those piss-ups at the end of day one must be a recent innovation, Auld-Yin.