New Army recruits will be put through their paces by Bear Grylls’ bootcamp fitness firm BMF

Bear Grylls will help toughen up new recruits from next week in a bid to stop them dropping out of the Army. 

Thousands of the around 100,000 people who apply to join the Army each year quit because of the rigorous fitness demands and outdoor skills required.

But the TV survival star’s bootcamp fitness company is stepping in to help put recruits through their paces before their official training begins. 

Be Military Fit (BMF) is set to launch a new partnership with Army recruitment contractor Capita on Monday. 

The former SAS man told The Sun that his firm will use ‘tailored fitness programmes and expertise’ to condition new recruits in order to stop so many dropping out.

‘The truth is some recruits aren’t prepared for the standard of outdoor resilience and fitness that’s needed to succeed. 

‘Around 30,000 men and women are put through to day one of basic training but they lose a lot in the early days,’ he said.

Grylls, 46, said the programme will get squaddies used to outdoor training and taking instructions as part of a team as well as giving the recruits confidence ahead of their training.

Those who attend all 15 BMF sessions will be issued with a report from one of the company’s instructors. 

Grylls – whose real name is Edward – is also turning his attention to ensuring more women make it through basic training. 

Some 20,000 women apply to join the Army each year but 10% are forced to quit due to the same fitness and resilience issues face by other recruits, The Sun reported.

However, female recruits frequently out-perform their male counterparts. 

Grylls said that women ‘have proven to be some of the most promising and tough recruits we’ve had in the Army in recent years. 

‘They’re just as strong as men, and that’s why we’re going to help get more females fighting fit and full of confidence ahead of their army careers.’

Despite the abilities of female recruits and an increase in their numbers over recent years, many continue to quit because of difficulties with the male-dominated military environment.

Beyond whipping army recruits into shape, Gryll’s company also runs outdoor group fitness classes for the public, with more than one million people tuning into online versions during the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown earlier this year.  

As England began its first week under a new lockdown introduced on Thursday, Grylls urged Brits to prioritise their mental and physical fitness. 

‘My best advice to the public in this time is to adapt and overcome the situation that we’ve been presented with. 

‘Getting outside and experiencing fresh air is well documented to be linked with happiness and we know what to expect with lockdown this time around,’ he told The Sun from the US, where he is currently filming a new series of his show Running Wild.

Grylls suggested a number of alternative ways to workout as gyms close once more. 

‘Use your environment to your advantage. Grab a backpack and fill it with household items like books or water and do exercises with it on your back.

‘Use outdoor spaces to train. Strong trees or bars for pull-ups, benches for dips, obstacles like kerbs for jumping up and down,’ he said.   

‘It’s been such a tough year for everyone and I’m ever-mindful of that but you have to roll with the punches and be nimble, like a martial artist.’