Documentary backdrop image for First Stripes (2023)

2023107 minPGdocumentary

6.0/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

military life-stories

First Stripes

2023107 minPGdocumentary

6.0/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

A group of civilians undergoes 12 weeks of rigorous training to become soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces, directed by Jean-François Caissy.

military life-stories

Genres

Director

Jean-François Caissy

Channel: NFB

First Stripes

2023• 107 minPG

6.0/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

Synopsis

A group of civilians undergoes 12 weeks of rigorous training to become soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces, directed by Jean-François Caissy.

People

Jean-François Caissy

Jean-François Caissydirector

Jean-François Caissy

Jean-François Caissywriter

Johanne Bergeroncast

Nicolas Canniccioni

Nicolas Canniccionicast

Mathieu Bouchard-Malocast

Synopsis

A group of civilians undergoes 12 weeks of rigorous training to become soldiers in the Canadian Armed Forces. Directed by Jean-François Caissy, "First Stripes" is the third installment in his documentary series exploring various life stages. The film provides an in-depth look at the military experience, highlighting the personal journeys of young adults who have chosen this unique career path. Through their transformation, the documentary examines the challenges and commitments involved in military service in Canada.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

As the Crow Flies (2020)

As the Crow Flies

Eighteen teenagers train at a Royal Canadian Air Cadets camp, aiming to earn their pilot's license in just seven weeks.

As the Crow Flies

Fighter Wing (2018)

Fighter Wing

Pilots at the Royal Canadian Air Force's number three fighter wing in West Germany average under 24 years old and fly aircraft worth a quarter of a million dollars each.

Front Lines (2014)

Front Lines

Two soldiers, one Canadian and one German, died at the front, each with a bayonet in the stomach, both just 20 years old.

Open Secrets (2022)

Open Secrets

2022•52m•★6.7TMDB

Homosexual behaviour among Canadian soldiers during and after World War II led to military tribunals and public exposure, as revealed by veterans in José Torrealba's documentary.

Fields of Sacrifice (2010)

Fields of Sacrifice

Battlefields across Europe and Asia, where over 100,000 Canadian soldiers perished in the World Wars, are explored alongside their cemeteries.

Fields of Sacrifice

Forgotten Warriors (2020)

Forgotten Warriors

Thousands of Indigenous Canadians enlisted in World War II, despite being told by the government that they had no business fighting in the conflict.

Forgotten Warriors

The Truth Behind Life As A Sniper In WWII | Black Watch Snipers (2021)

The Truth Behind Life As A Sniper In WWII | Black Watch Snipers

Less than 50 members of the Black Watch remained after intense battles in World War II, with the battalion suffering the highest casualty list of any regiment.

The Truth Behind Life As A Sniper In WWII | Black Watch Snipers

The Great War - Part 1 (2025)

The Great War - Part 1

Canada's involvement in World War I is portrayed through historical recreations featuring descendants of soldiers, highlighting key events like the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

The Great War - Part 1

The Disastrous D-Day Drop Of The Canadian 1st Paratroopers (2024)

The Disastrous D-Day Drop Of The Canadian 1st Paratroopers

On June 6th, 1944, Canadian 1st Paratroopers launched their D-Day mission, engaging in intense combat deep within enemy territory in Normandy.

The Disastrous D-Day Drop Of The Canadian 1st Paratroopers

The Air Force Missile Mission (2015)

The Air Force Missile Mission

James Stewart narrates a detailed overview of the U.S. Air Force's missile program and its strategic importance during the Cold War era.

The Air Force Missile Mission

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs (2026)

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

In Los Angeles, Louis Theroux meets dog owners and enthusiasts whose lives are intertwined with the city's unique and often dangerous canine culture.

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

The Fatal Flaw With Hitler’s Wonder-Weapon Obsession | How The Nazis Lost The War (2023)

The Fatal Flaw With Hitler’s Wonder-Weapon Obsession | How The Nazis Lost The War

Hitler's fixation on advanced weaponry, including giant tanks and jet fighters, ultimately hindered Germany's military effectiveness during World War II.

The Fatal Flaw With Hitler’s Wonder-Weapon Obsession | How The Nazis Lost The War

Explore First Stripes

Cast & Crew Topics FAQ Stream

Browse more like this

As the Crow Flies (2020)

As the Crow Flies

Eighteen teenagers train at a Royal Canadian Air Cadets camp, aiming to earn their pilot's license in just seven weeks.

As the Crow Flies

No digital watch option in your country

Forgotten Warriors (2020)

Forgotten Warriors

Thousands of Indigenous Canadians enlisted in World War II, despite being told by the government that they had no business fighting in the conflict.

Forgotten Warriors

No digital watch option in your country

The Truth Behind Life As A Sniper In WWII | Black Watch Snipers (2021)

The Truth Behind Life As A Sniper In WWII | Black Watch Snipers

Less than 50 members of the Black Watch remained after intense battles in World War II, with the battalion suffering the highest casualty list of any regiment.

The Truth Behind Life As A Sniper In WWII | Black Watch Snipers

No digital watch option in your country

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs (2026)

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

In Los Angeles, Louis Theroux meets dog owners and enthusiasts whose lives are intertwined with the city's unique and often dangerous canine culture.

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

No digital watch option in your country

The Fatal Flaw With Hitler’s Wonder-Weapon Obsession | How The Nazis Lost The War (2023)

The Fatal Flaw With Hitler’s Wonder-Weapon Obsession | How The Nazis Lost The War

Hitler's fixation on advanced weaponry, including giant tanks and jet fighters, ultimately hindered Germany's military effectiveness during World War II.

The Fatal Flaw With Hitler’s Wonder-Weapon Obsession | How The Nazis Lost The War

No digital watch option in your country

Raw Recruits: Squaddies at 16 (2016)

Raw Recruits: Squaddies at 16

2016•45m•★6.9TMDB

A group of teenage recruits undergoes basic training in the British Army, facing the challenges and demands of military life.

Raw Recruits: Squaddies at 16

Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag (2004)

Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag

2004•48m•★6.8TMDB

A simulated air war at Nellis Air Force Base trains pilots using telemetry systems to track engagements without firing actual weapons.

Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag

Two Weeks in Hell (2009)

Two Weeks in Hell

2009•2h•★6.9TMDB

Green Berets endure 120 hours of grueling training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, designed to prepare them for complex combat scenarios.

Two Weeks in Hell

My Swiss Army (2024)

My Swiss Army

2024•1h17m•★7.0TMDB

Three Swiss citizens undergo military training, confronting their loyalties to Switzerland and their countries of origin during national service.

Severe Clear (2010)

Severe Clear

2010•1h33m•★5.4TMDB

Footage shot by First Lieutenant Mike Scotti during the 2003 invasion of Iraq captures the intense experiences of Marines on the front lines.

Soldier Girls (1981)

Soldier Girls

1981•1h27m•★6.5TMDB

Women's basic training at Fort Georgia is the focus of this 1981 documentary, which provides an inside look at their experiences.

Where Soldiers Come From (2011)

Where Soldiers Come From

2011•1h33m•★5.4TMDB

Three childhood friends from a small town in northern Michigan join the National Guard after high school and become combat veterans by age 23.

Where Soldiers Come From

One of the Guys (2018)

One of the Guys

2018•1h30m•★1.0TMDB

Corporal Virginie Lamarre, a veteran of the Afghanistan war, officially transitions to become a man while serving in the Canadian army.

One of the Guys

Myanmar Diaries (2022)

Myanmar Diaries

2022•1h10m•★7.3TMDB

Following the February 1, 2021 coup, citizens of Myanmar express their struggles against military rule through personal stories and artistic expression.

Myanmar Diaries

Major Fraud (2002)

Major Fraud

2002•1h30m•★7.7TMDB

Recruits endure a 13-week boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, transforming from civilians into disciplined soldiers of the United States Marine Corps.

Making Marines (2002)

Making Marines

2002•1h30m•★7.7TMDB

Recruits at Parris Island endure a 13-week boot camp, facing intense physical and mental challenges to become United States Marines.

Dancing Through Life: The Dorothy Toy Story (2017)

Dancing Through Life: The Dorothy Toy Story

2017•26m•★10.0TMDB

At 99 years old, Dorothy Toy Fong continues to perform, demonstrating her lifelong dedication to tap dance and the joy it brings to audiences.

Dancing Through Life: The Dorothy Toy Story

Browse more by Jean-François Caissy

View all films →

Guidelines (2026)

Guidelines

2026

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →