More than 300 Army recruit training instructors have been court–martialed or faced severe disciplinary action for abusing recruits, theft, and drug–taking, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The soldiers were all working with some of the youngest and most vulnerable recruits serving in the armed forces who, because of their age, are still classed as children.
In some cases, the instructors responsible for 16–year–old male and female recruits were charged with child pornography offences.
Recruits complained to military investigators that they were kicked, punched, and forced to take part in sickening initiation ceremonies.
Others revealed they were humiliated by instructors and threatened with physical violence if they complained.
Details of the abuse were revealed in a series of Freedom of Information requests obtained by the Mail On Sunday.
The alleged offences took place at the Army Foundation College Harrogate, where 16–year–old recruits are trained.
Offences were also recorded at recruit bases in Pirbright, Winchester, and Catterick, where Infantry recruits are trained.
An Army instructor was investigated after a video exclusively obtained by the Mail revealed his sickening abuse of a black recruit
The Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) was first seen forcing the junior soldier to lie in a puddle and do press ups.
The disclosure, which covers the period from 2015 to 2025, was described as ‘disgusting’ by one former senior officer.
Details of the abuse can be revealed just days after two Army training instructors were jailed for grooming a 17–year–old recruit whom they called their ‘naked maid’.
Lance Sergeant Antony Pugh and Sergeant Connor Forgan, who were instructors at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick ‘targeted’ the teenage trainee, slept with her, and then sent each other texts about her that were ‘disgraceful, indecent, and misogynistic’.
Pugh, 36, showered her with gifts from a lingerie and sex toy website, as well as ‘bondage equipment’, while Forgan, 32, tried to ‘persuade’ her to send him explicit photos of herself and have sex with him.
A court martial heard the young recruit, who cannot be named for legal reasons, felt like she ‘couldn’t say no’.
It also emerged last week that two Army officers are to be court martialed over the handling of a case of sexual assault of the teenage soldier Jaysley Beck, who later took her own life.
Major James Hook and Colonel Samantha Shepherd, who were both made aware of her complaint before she took her life, have been charged with conduct prejudicial to good order and service discipline.
Critics of the Army’s disciplinary system have said that Jaysley’s death demonstrates that bullying and abuse in the Army remains widespread.
It emerged last week that two Army officers are to be court martialed over the handling of a case of sexual assault of the teenage soldier Jaysley Beck (pictured), who later took her own life
A separate FOI shows that over 186 recruits have self–harmed and more than 600 recruits, trained personnel, and army instructors had received treatment for mental health issues while based at the training centres.
Despite efforts to stamp out bullying, the Army has suffered from allegations of abuse for decades.
Philip Ingram, a former Army Colonel and Intelligence Officer, said: ‘These figures show that there has been a systemic abuse of recruits for many years, and it is disgusting.
‘The military keeps saying they have dealt with inappropriate behaviours across the services, but reality tells a different story.
‘It’s time the military stops marking its own homework and that there is a truly independent body that can investigate claims of inappropriate behaviour and ensure the policies that are brought in to stop it are being properly implemented because at the moment they aren’t.’
An MOD spokesperson said: ‘There is no place for bullying, harassment, discrimination, or abuse within Defence.
‘We actively encourage any personnel who believe they have experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour to report it. All allegations of unacceptable behaviour are taken extremely seriously and are thoroughly investigated. If proven, swift action will be taken.
‘We are addressing issues of harassment, discrimination, and abuse systematically through the Raising Our Standards (ROS) program – which seeks to tackle unacceptable behaviours, strengthen complaints processes, and promote a culture of respect and accountability.’
