I once designed a couple of weekend immersive military experiences.
In version 1, participants would arrive in the dark, ideally while it was raining, and would be sent off to dig slit trenches on the edge of a field. Once they had settled into their slit trenches and were just starting to heat up their ration packs, they would be ordered to move out immediately. On arrival at their new location, the process, or a similar one, would be repeated.
Keep doing this until endex and then send them home.
The alternative to this was to stick them in a barracks for a weekend, complete with ironing boards, irons, boot polish and all the other wonderful bits and pieces. Their first task would be to get their kit into a condition that would pass inspection by a grumpy former senior NCO, who would be well paid for throwing their kit on the floor, emptying their lockers and shouting at them.
Once they had got their kit sorted out to his satisfaction, they would be sent out for an eight mile run in full kit, ideally in the rain, after which they would have to do PT on the parade ground. This would be followed by sorting out their now wet and scruffy kit, again subject to Mr Grumpy's inspection and approval. Then, get them to clear up the barracks before they get a chance to eat.
Keep this going for a couple of days and send them home.
I thought that these would provide a far more realistic insight into military life.
I also had an RAF variant, which consisted of checking into a 5 star hotel for the weekend and running up a huge room service bill.
