Tamzin Outhwaites Training Diary
To prepare for any role, it is important for an actor to learn the background to the character they are to play. As Jo McDonagh, acting sergeant in the Armys SIB, Tamzin Outhwaite was faced with the task of learning the basics of being a soldier as well as the key skills she would need to bring the role alive.
Most new recruits take a year to learn how to be a soldier and develop their basic trade skills. Tamzin was given one week. This is her diary
Sunday 8th July Early evening
Arrived on Sunday evening at the Armys Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre (RTMC) in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. RTMC trains and prepares both Territorial Army and Army reservists for deployment to operational areas and as such is well used to brushing up and re-training rusty and forgotten skills. With me, my Army trainers need to start from scratch. Everything needs to look as real as possible. I have to convince the people watching at home including soldiers that Im a SIB sergeant whos spent the last 12 years in the Army. I need to get under the skin of the character and that means understanding the Armys unique way of doing things and their sense of humour.
Photograph showing the entrance to Chilwell
Im looking through my training schedule, like every new soldier, I need the basics: how to dress properly in the Armys combat uniform (although my character is a plain clothes military detective), how to march, to salute, to stand to attention and to handle a weapon. Ill also learn how to physically defend myself. But what Im looking forward to most is the driver training off road, cross country driving. I have a feeling that its going to be a intensive but exciting week!
Monday 9th July
I was issued with my kit this morning from the stores. Ive been given my uniform comprising of the Armys combat trousers and shirt, the red beret which has given the name to the drama Red Cap - boots and belt. The beret had to be shaped in order to fit it to my head and to take on the shape worn by the soldiers. Somehow it still looks too new, so Im planning to swap berets with a real life SIB for that added touch of authenticity. Ive also been issued with Army webbing, basically a harness that carries small personal items of equipment on a belt that fastens around the waist. Soldiers carry ammunition, water bottles, mess tins (tin pots used to cook outdoors), ration packs and other small items. Its quite bulky to wear and can be rather heavy but Ive been assured I wont be wearing it during my training.
Today Sgt Neil Whitewick, the man largely responsible for my entire training, taught me the basics of drill - the movements soldiers go through when lined up on parade. I learned to stand to attention (the position adopted before you set off marching), to stand at ease (a slightly less rigid position than before, arms are behind your back, your chest is still out, chin up and shoulders back, feet are 12 inches apart) and to stand easy (a much more relaxed position). Apparently, the importance of drill is to instil discipline and order into the individual soldier and to help them to think and behave as part of a team. When you watch the soldiers during ceremonies like Trooping the Colour they make it all look so easy. But it isnt. Apparently it takes months of practice to get it right. Ive got three more days!
After lunch, on the Armys shooting ranges, Sgt Whitewick demonstrated the rifle, the pistol and the rifles different types of fire: deliberate rate of fire (where a shot is fired every six seconds), rapid rate of fire (where 30 bullets are fired in a minute) and snap shooting (firing at short range targets). Every soldier is trained to use a rifle and my Red Cap character, Sergeant Jo McDonagh, carries and uses a 9mm pistol so it was important that I learn the ins and outs of both weapons. Today, I learned everything that a trained soldier would have been taught about operating and firing a pistol how to load it, how to make it ready, how to unload and make the pistol safe.
I rounded off the day with a basic lesson in outdoor survival from the importance and use of camouflage and concealment to basher construction. A basher is basically a shelter and involves converting what looks like a waterproof piece of cloth into a tent like structure under which to shelter from the (increasingly inclement) elements.
Tuesday 10th July
One duty of an actress is to take an active part in publicising the programme/project you are involved with. The end product always looks so glamorous and you often dont get to see the hard work and effort that everyone puts into it. From 10:00 until lunch, the nations press and their photographers crowded onto the drill-square to photograph me marching and saluting with the Armys training staff and other real-life female Army detectives. We repeated positions and actions until all the photographers had exactly the shot they wanted. Once the photographers had left I was then interviewed about my role in Red Cap by BBC Radio Nottingham, Soldier magazine and the Daily Mails Night and Day magazine.
Once that was over it was back to learning how to be a soldier. First lesson of the day was on the Armys rifle training simulator or SAT (Small Arms Trainer) to those in the know. The SAT is a computerised indoor firing range. Its a bit like firing at an arcade game although far more realistic. The aim is to fire five bullets at the centre of the target in the smallest group possible. I fired from all different positions, standing, kneeling and sitting. Overall Im a crack shot apparently, achieving a better than your average recruit result. Just as well it was Lisa and not me who shot Phil Mitchell!
Wednesday 11th July
Fitness is a way of life in the Army, you need to maintain a good standard of fitness to do the job even if its just to give chase to criminals! Keeping fit is very important to me so there were no surprises when the Physical Training staff gave me a gym induction and a basic fitness class. Gym membership comes free with the job for soldiers no joining or monthly membership fees! A couple of sit-ups, press ups and a spot of rope climbing later (not one of my favourite activities), it was back outside to brush up on my new found drill skills.
Today, Ive learned how to turn to the right and left, marching and stopping in time with everyone else (not as easy as it looks). I also learned how to salute properly. I really enjoyed doing drill. Being a trained dancer the discipline of taking instruction from the choreographer has helped me because it really amounts to a series of choreographed moves. Im as good as any soldier now although Sgt Whitewick tells me that I have to be careful not to let my arms swinging out when I stand to attention. A minor point but one that can knock the credibility of my character if Im not careful.
I realised during lunch that my character has to strip down and assemble a pistol BLINDFOLDED which is not a normal practice but if the script requires it. Its really difficult to do and I was surprised I got the hang of it! I dont suppose its a skill many people can claim to have!
I finished the day on the assault course, climbing over the cargo net, crawling through a tunnel and hauling myself over the rope bridge. Apparently the assault course gives you confidence and builds team spirits as its your friends and team mates who help you get across it. Well its certainly given me aches and pains in my muscles. Im shattered! Thank goodness for a warm bath and a comfy bed!
PS. The pictures taken by the newspaper photographers appeared in the Daily Express, The Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Star and I believe Ill be in this weeks Heat magazine!
Thursday12th July
In the morning it was back to the Small Arms Trainer to learn how to fire the standard issue Army rifle the SA80. After a run through the drills: load, ready, unload and make safe, I fired both the rifle and the pistol at standing, kneeling and sitting positions. On reflection, I prefer using the pistol and I cant believe how good a shot I am. Im a natural according to my instructors.
Although the job of a soldier detective is more about investigation, part of the job involves arresting suspects so I was taught basic restraint moves and releases such as wrist and shoulder locks. Although the training was really enjoyable, Im still really excited about the off-road driving training tomorrow.Friday 13th July
In Red Cap, my character has to chase a car at high speed down the German motorway real cops and robbers stuff. So to familiarise me with the vehicle and a left hand drive vehicle which Jo uses in the programme, I put the vehicle through its paces on the Armys off-road driving circuit. How hard can that be? OK, well for starters Army Land Rovers are great for off road but not quite designed for high speed chases! And its Friday 13th not one of the luckiest days.
However, I am in luck - after a mini driving test and having checked the oil, water and petrol levels (oh, and the breakdown kit was in the vehicle you can never be to sure!) I was let loose on the Armys off-road driving track.
Photograph of Tamzin Outhwaite with RMP Landrover
When youre used to driving a power assisted, right hand drive car, handling a 4 wheel, left had drive Land Rover is a bit of a shock. Taking it up and down steep hills, through puddles and ruts was really demanding, I had to pull down hard, often putting all my weight behind it, on the steering wheel to keep it straight. At times it was quite scary.
And so that brings me to the end of my military training. Its been a tough week, before it, I didnt realise how demanding Army life can sometimes be. Ive had to learn so much in such a short space of time, the amount of skills and drills Ive had to take on board has been a tall order for anyone to master in such a small time. But I feel Ive done well. I definitely feel and look the part of Jo McDonagh. This week I have acquired the background knowledge necessary to develop the character and talking to real life SIB sergeants has helped me to understand Jo just that little bit more. All in all, tiredness aside, I also think Im a better person for the experience.
