This is an examination and an analysis of the systems of recruitment, selection, education and training for junior officers in the British Armed Forces. It is a study based around four core institutions: The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, The Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, the Department of Initial Officer Training, Royal Air Force College, Cranwell and the Officers Training Wing, Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines, Lympstone. The conclusions reveal the enduring dilemmas involved in the preparation of officer aspirants for entry to the British military profession.

Between 1496 BC and 1861 AD (a period of some 3,357 years), there were 227 years of peace and 3,230 years in which wars were fought; a ration of 13 years in war for each year of peace. The number of wars in progress in any one year averaged about 12 in the 19th century and rose to about 40 in the second third of the 20th century. Despite the year of peace breaking out of 1989, the 1990 Gulf crisis demonstrated that it would be most precipitate to believe that soon we will escape the seeming certainty that members of our societies will be required to sally forth and defend our lives and property with their skills, knowledge and ultimately their lives. We have a serious need to know how the young men and women who will lead these actions in our defence are prepared of this task. Not only does society have a need to know, it has a right and an obligation to understand and scrutinise the processes by which a lay person, in most cases, is transformed into a professional military officer and leader. For indeed, as in the past, and as surely in the future, it will be the sons and daughters of society who will be placed under the command and direction of such people in what portend to be

Collection of western films and feature-length TV episodes. In 'Cry Blood, Apache' (1970) five wandering prospectors discover gold at an Apache camp, and quickly despatch the resident Indians bar one woman (Marie Gahua), who they hope can lead them to more riches. A brave who was absent at the time of the killings returns to discover the massacre and quickly sets out to track the murderers down, meting out justice the Apache way. In 'Mohawk' (1956) Boston artist Jonathan Adams (Scott Brady) travels to Mohawk Valley to paint portraits of the Native Americans, and while there falls in love with the local Indian chief's daughter, Onida (Rita Gam). But when a resentful local landowner, Butler (John Hoyt), tries to instigate a war with the Indians, Adams is forced to step in to stop the bloodshed. In 'The Battle of Bloody Stones' (1967), an episode from the 'Cimarron Strip' TV series, John Wolf (Tom Nardini), the son of Indian Chief Ghost Wolf (Henry Wilcoxon), is killed as a result of a re-enactment show put on by Wildcat Gallagher (Gene Evans). It is up to Marshal Jim Crown (Stuart Whitman) to suppress the outbreak of war between the Indian tribe and Gallagher's posse. In 'Heller' (1968), another episode from 'Cimarron Strip', Marshal Crown is badly injured when chasing thief Logan Purcell (Morgan Woodward) and his fellow outlaws. When Heller (Tuesday Weld), a young woman with connections to Purcell's gang, helps Crown to recover, the two decide to run away to Cimarron but are chased by the crooks who are determined to punish Heller for her betrayal. In 'Sitting Bull' (1954), set in the lead-up to the Battle of Little Bighorn, Major Robert Parrish (Dale Robertson) is disgusted with the US Army's treatment of the Sioux Indians in the Black Hills of Dakota. Parrish attempts to make peace between the warring sides, but when he fails, a final brutal battle ensues. J. Carrol Naish co-stars in the title role. Finally, 'Kentucky Rifle' (1956) follows a group of travellers whose wagon breaks down in Comanche territory. Concealed in the travellers' wagon are Kentucky rifles, made for settlers to defend themselves against the natives. Aware these weapons are in the group's possession, the Comanche tribe deliver an ultimatum - if they do not hand over the rifles, they will not be allowed to pass safely through the Indians' land.

Western following a group of travellers whose wagon breaks down in Comanche territory. Concealed in the travellers' wagon are Kentucky rifles, made for settlers to defend themselves against the natives. Aware these weapons are in the group's possession, the Comanche tribe deliver an ultimatum - if they do not hand over the rifles, they will not be allowed to pass safely through the Indians' land.