The new recruits who were put through their paces.

The new recruits who were put through their paces.

Updated 13.00pm

RTÉ’s DOCUMENTARY ABOUT new recruits being trained up for the Defence Forces had people talking last night.

For the first time, cameras were given permission to film behind the scenes with the Irish Army as new recruits face the most gruelling challenge of their lives.

Over the course of two nights, the documentary follows the fresh-faced men and women as they get pushed to their limits.

From multiple push-ups, scrubbing their boots, and punishments for failures in their groups, the young recruits found out what they were made of.

In one scene a recruit gets his whole unit into trouble when he answers back a training officer. This was everyone’s punishment:

In another scene, a recruit is pulled up for packing his rucksack incorrectly. The recruit is accused of only including half the items he was supposed to, making his bag a lot lighter than his comrades as they jog around a field in the Curragh.

His bag is emptied and his training officers shout at him asking why he failed to do as he was told.

He finds himself getting a formal warning.

Too tough?

Last night’s episode had Twitter blazing, as some people criticised some of the training methods and language used by the training officers.

Some said the programme would put off young people signing up for the army.

In a statement, RTÉ said:

Recruits is a fly-on-the-wall documentary giving viewers an authentic insight into what life is like for someone going through the Defence Force’s army training programme.The makers, Moondance Productions, were given unprecedented “warts and all” access and the programme is an accurate reflection of this.The programme was broadcast after the watershed and carried an audience advisory that it was suitable for Mature Audiences.

#recruits foul language from these supposed officers of our army is embarrassing — George Lawlor (@cllrglawlor) August 31, 2015 Source: George Lawlor /Twitter

Obviously normal employment law regarding bullying and dignity in the workplace don't apply in the army #recruits — Richard Sheehan (@risteard69) August 31, 2015 Source: Richard Sheehan /Twitter

Not sure this #Recruits is doing justice to our army friends, who often work in dangerous conditions for low pay — Thomas Byrne TD - 🇮🇪🇪🇺Meath East (@ThomasByrneTD) August 31, 2015 Source: Thomas Byrne /Twitter

This #recruits programme dreadful. Do you have to be an expert curser to qualify for the army? — Miriam Donohoe (@miriamdonohoe) August 31, 2015 Source: Miriam Donohoe /Twitter

Why the vulgarity in training our army #Recruits



Is it really necessary or just some inadequacy on the part of those doing the training? — Ciaran Cannon (@ciarancannon) August 31, 2015 Source: Ciaran Cannon /Twitter

Not the Boy Scouts

On the other side of the argument, people thought the bad reaction was PC gone mad. Some army officers also weighed in on the argument.

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Lots of giving about about the cursing in #recruits. It's the army not the Boy Scouts.They are training for war zones not finishing school — Mick McCaffrey (@mccaffreymick) August 31, 2015 Source: Mick McCaffrey /Twitter

It seems some prefer our defence forces to go into action as gentle trusting souls using well honed, mannerly mediation skills. #recruits — Pat Brady, 🇪🇺 (@Workplacesols) August 31, 2015 Source: Pat Brady /Twitter

Hahahaha the amount of giving out about the language on #Recruits . Get a grip people, it's all part of it! Some might say that's sedate! 😂 — Sarah O'Neill (@SarahONeill18) August 31, 2015 Source: Sarah O'Neill /Twitter

It goes to show judging by the tweets that some people have no clue what life in the army is like. What u c here is toned down #recruits — Paul Mc Guinness (@paulmcguinness6) August 31, 2015 Source: Paul Mc Guinness /Twitter

#recruits I think the trainers are holding back...and I was expecting alot more shouting and swearing.... — Maria (@Maria_Shannon) August 31, 2015 Source: Maria ✏️ /Twitter

Others said that this sort of training should be mandatory for the youth of today.

If you missed last night’s episode you can catch up on the RTÉ Player here.

The second instalment will be aired tonight on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.

What do you think?

Mini-poll: Do you think the army training is too tough for the new recruits?

