But the process of toughening up young recruits - many aged just 16 or17 - can leave them particularly vulnerable. They are cut off from theirusual support networks, in a highly stressful environment, and withevery aspect of their lives controlled by officers and instructors.
And while the armed forces would argue that care is taken to preventabuses, there have been enough cases to demonstrate that trainingestablishments can be attractive environments for bullies and sadists.The report by Nicholas Blake QC into the deaths of recruits at Deepcutbarracks is simply the latest confirmation of what he described as "aculture of intimidation" (See Analysis, p11).
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