| Tango01 | 30 Jun 2014 10:50 p.m. PST |
"When undergoing the officer training for the British Army, one might be expected to go through rigorous lectures, gruelling drills, and early wake up calls. But the trainees at Sandhurst are also offered a rather more unusual learning tool: watching Band of Brothers. Damian Lewis, the British actor and star of the acclaimed television series, said pivotal scenes from Band of Brothers are studied at Sandhurst and its US counterpart West Point…"
Full article here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| jgawne | 01 Jul 2014 7:30 a.m. PST |
It is always good to learn "what not to do" |
| davbenbak | 01 Jul 2014 7:49 a.m. PST |
I would hope that they would do more than just watch the movie! Reading the book it is based on would be essential to learning the true message of the film. Little details such as; were it not for the intense physical training they received from their hated captain few would have survived and how they were so close that they were able to tell who each soldier was, even in the dark, by his outline and the way he moved causing problems when the unit received replacements. I would say that the most moving part of the whole film is the interviews with the actual soldiers and their incredible humility and humanity. |
| Cincinnatus | 01 Jul 2014 9:14 a.m. PST |
Let's keep in mind this is the actor telling a reporter what his nephew has told him. He then adds in his own opinion as to how extensive it must be used based on the number of service members who have approached him. Is it something they might show at Sandhurst and West Point? Sure. But let's not make it more than it is. |
| Zargon | 01 Jul 2014 9:43 a.m. PST |
Haha would not want to follow any officers who's 'training' was to watch a war film.
Again sure it wasn't just part of PX entertainment night? |
| CorpCommander | 01 Jul 2014 10:39 a.m. PST |
They should show them Kelly's Heroes. They can see that A) the Army will roll you over. B) Corrupt officers above you will roll you over. C) Why we hate our own artillery as much as enemy artillery. D) How motivating a gold brick can be. E) How demotivating a tank commander who is a gold brick can be! F) You can get 60 feet of bridge anywhere. G) The value of a positive attitude. Finally H) Sometimes you have more in common with the enemy than you thought. Add in excellent tactics and advice on taking on 3 Tigers with 1 Sherman and you have a potent educational experience in the mere span of 144 minutes. Its like 2 years worth of Sandhurst at least. |
Roderick Robertson  | 01 Jul 2014 11:42 a.m. PST |
When I was in the Emergency Response Team at my last employer, I was tasked with coming up with the Quarterly party. I chose a movie, "Volcano" (Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche; YouTube link ), followed by commentary at the local El Toritos (a bar/restaurant). We had a great time tearing the movie up in light of the training we had been given… |
| Jemima Fawr | 02 Jul 2014 3:33 a.m. PST |
I don't think there's anything wrong with that, though I doubt that they sit through the entire series in class – most likely certain exerpts. When I was undergoing RAF officer training, we saw a couple of war films (or extracts from films) to illustrate leadership points and/or to stimulate discussion. One such film was '12 o'clock High'. |
| Sparker | 02 Jul 2014 2:54 p.m. PST |
But let's not make it more than it is. Exactly! And I too was shown extracts from '12 O'clock High' on leadership courses. And when putting together lectures on Communications Security for young soldiers (whom I was informed had the attention span of a fruit fly on heat – although actually I was very impressed with them) I used the 'Security is not a dirty word' clip from 'Black Adder goes forth' – about 30 seconds all up, just while they were getting settled… I sincerely hope some future historian doesn't suggest that the British Army used Blackadder films as its main training source! |
| Winston Smith | 02 Jul 2014 9:48 p.m. PST |
Who knows how the future will view it. You may be seen as prescient. |
