‘Ten Weeks’ shows Army Basic Training like you’ve never seen it before

“Ten Weeks” is a new ten-part docu-series that aims to offer the most in-depth and realistic depiction of Army Basic Combat Training in more than twenty years, by actually following five young Americans throughout their journey from civilian to Soldier. The series also features a number of veterans behind the camera, including a legendary Medal of Honor recipient and a former Green Beret.

It’s not uncommon to hear service members say that basic training (or boot camp, as many of us tend to call it) is the sort of thing you just can’t understand unless you’ve been there. Everyone knows to expect physical hardship at basic training, but many of us who’ve been through it often contend that it’s not the physical challenges that make basic training hard, it’s the mental and emotional ones.

Training your body to run for miles on end or to do push ups until the sun goes down is no walk in the park, but training your mind to be resilient and task oriented no matter how exhausted or overwhelmed you are is what really separates Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians from the fitness buffs at your local gym. With the right motivation, anyone can get into shape… it’s training your mind to find that motivation within yourself, to push through because your buddies are counting on you, that defines the unspoken nobility of service.

But to convey the emotional and mental hardship of the experience without a shared context can be as tough as trying to explain how to get good sight picture with your rifle to someone who’s never held a rifle and isn’t even sure what sights are. That’s where “Ten Weeks” comes in. For the first time in over twenty years, the Army has granted film crews unfettered access to the Basic Combat Training journeys of five young Americans who aspire to earn their place in Uncle Sam’s Army.

The result is a ten-part documentary series depicting the realities of Army Basic Combat Training in the modern era like no show has before. Of course, pulling that off meant not only knowing the ins and outs of military service, but also the complex world of television production. The list of people with that specialized and diverse a tool box is shorter than the list of people who have walked on the moon, and right at the top of it is former Green Beret Chase Millsap.

“We wanted this series to give audiences a raw and real depiction of what life is really like for everyday civilians that choose to serve their country,” Chase Millsap, an Army Special Forces veteran and the show’s Executive Producer tells Sandboxx News.

“I am proud of how ‘Ten Weeks’ captures the equally exhausting and exhilarating experiences of the military and look forward to sharing these inspiring stories on The Roku Channel.”

Millsap isn’t alone in steering this documentary ship, however, and his co-executive producer carries an even more impressive military resume.

U.S. Army Colonel Jack Jacobs (now retired) is a name you may be familiar with thanks to his legendary heroism in Vietnam. In March of 1968, Jacobs’ unit came under heavy fire, suffering massive casualties including their company commander. Jacobs, a 1st lieutenant at the time, took charge, coordinating fire and the evacuation of the wounded despite suffering severe injuries himself.

“Nearly fifty years ago, I found myself in the most intense combat situation any human being could imagine. To survive, all we had was our Army training and the confidence it instilled within us to trust the soldiers serving by our side,” the Medal of Honor recipient recounts.

Jacobs carried 14 men out of the fray that day, including his wounded company commander, earning himself the Medal of Honor and a promotion to Captain. Throughout his time in Vietnam, Jacobs would also earn two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.

“A lot has changed in that time. But what has remained constant are the core Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, service, honor, courage and integrity that are deeply ingrained in each future soldier during basic training,” the Colonel explains.

One could argue that no one is better suited to bring these stories to the screen than a man who not only experienced Army Basic Combat Training for himself, but who went on to embody those very core values in his actions when the Soldiers around him needed him the most.

“Every soldier has a different story and ‘Ten Weeks’ brings these stories to life on The Roku Channel, providing a powerfully realistic view of the transformation each undertakes on their journey to become a member of the United States Army,” Jacobs says.

You can find “Ten Weeks” on the Roku Channel starting Thursday, November 11.