Inside the Army's experiment to make Sandhurst better for female officer cadets

BFBS Forces News has taken an exclusive inside look at the British Army's new Critical Mass trial that's in action at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Over a period of four months, a BFBS Forces News crew followed cadets taking part in the landmark trial which aims to boost female numbers in a platoon from 10% to 30%.

The first two episodes of Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight can now be watched on our website or YouTube channel, with the remaining two episodes available from 11:00 on Friday.

'The Army's prioritised what makes people better leaders'

The four-part special features fascinating interviews with the inspiring young men and women taking part in the trial at the prestigious military academy.

Officer Cadet Kira Dent of 5 Platoon says the programme is helping the Army improve its leadership training.

"I think a lot of people from... my dad's era will always say that the Army's gone soft.

"But I think it hasn't. It's just prioritised what actually makes people better leaders."

"It is a lot better in a mixed platoon I would say," says Officer Cadet Jon Hunt.

"There's girls at the front, there's girls at the back, then there's lads at the front, lads at the back, so you don't notice it as such."

Officer Cadet Bradley Rigby also supported the trial, saying: "There are some lads that very much don't want females in the Army, but I don't have an issue.

"I think if as long as they pass all the tests that are put in front of them, then there's no reason they can't do just as good a job as a male."

The trial does not see Sandhurst recruit more women or alter standards, with the focus instead on grouping more women together within a mixed platoon during their time at the academy.

Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight follows the recruits as they go through world-class officer training - from room inspections to drill practice and exercises out in the field - offering an incredible insight into life at the famous academy.

'An institution under rightful scrutiny'

The changes at Sandhurst come after a damning report into the suicide of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks.

An inquiry described a complete breakdown in welfare support and a culture of inappropriate relationships between instructors and cadets. 

In Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight, senior staff at the academy speak candidly to BFBS Forces News about the need for it to improve.

"It was an institution under rightful scrutiny," Major General Zac Stenning, Commandant Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, says.

"It was an institution that was being forced to look at itself both by the Army and the nation."

Major Kirstie Deakin-Maine, Second in Command Intermediate & Senior Term at Sandhurst, said: "Both here at Sandhurst and the wider Field Army were really keen to engage and to stop this from happening again."

Watch Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight on the BFBS Forces News website or YouTube channel. Episodes 1-2 are now available, with episodes 3-4 available from Friday.