Roku Series Gives ‘Raw and Real Depiction’ of What Basic Training Is Like

The Roku Original docuseries "Ten Weeks" follows recruits through training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. All 10 episodes are set to premiere on The Roku Channel on Nov. 11, 2021.

This show marks the first time in more than two decades that the Army has allowed cameras to take an unfiltered look at how the United States trains its troops. Each episode focuses on one week of the training cycle.

Here's a look at the Roku trailer.

"Ten Weeks," produced by Blumhouse Television and We Are the Mighty, has taken a long road to air. Originally produced for the mobile-only streaming service Quibi, filming began in November 2019, and the show was completed in February 2020. Quibi launched in April 2020 in the midst of America's pandemic panic. No one was leaving the house during lockdown, and the service never got traction before shutting down in December.

Roku stepped in, bought all the Quibi shows and has been releasing them on The Roku Channel. Because this series was conceived for a service that wanted to deliver "quick bites" of content, each episode of "Ten Weeks" is 8-10 minutes long. You can sit down and watch the show in one go, since the entire series is one hour shorter than "Eternals."

Medal of Honor recipient and Army Vietnam War veteran Col. Jack Jacobs is one of the show's executive producers.

"Nearly fifty years ago, I found myself in the most intense combat situation any human being could imagine," Jacobs said in a press release. "To survive, all we had was our Army training and the confidence it instilled within us to trust the soldiers serving by our side.

"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. 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."

He's joined by fellow executive producer Chase Millsap, an Army Special Forces veteran, We Are the Mighty chief content officer and a writer on the CBS comedy series, "United States of Al."

"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," Millsap said in a statement. "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."

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"Ten Weeks" received a full endorsement in a statement from Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, the branch's top enlisted leader: "Each year, Americans from every background raise their right hand, taking an oath to serve our nation. For those choosing to join the United States Army, their journey from citizen to soldier begins with basic training. Shows like this offer an inside look at the transformation they undertake to serve a cause greater than themselves. I encourage every American to reflect on how grateful we are to live in a country where young men and women answer the call to service."

If you own a Roku, just go to The Roku Channel on your home screen. They make it easy to find. If you don't own a Roku, you can watch in a web browser by going to TheRokuChannel.com or installing the Roku app for iOS or Android and signing up for a free Roku account.

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