no time
From what I have read and been told, a key reason for the failure rate is that they are trying to train 18 months work into 9 months of time. The best way of learning, in my opinion, is to be taught something, and then be given time to go over it again with an instructor, so everything is fully understood. I believe in the current course, as soon as you have learnt one thing, there is something new to learn.
This means firstly its very easy to get behind, trying to perfect something you are unsure of comes at the cost of learning a new skill or element to the role. Secondly its very hard to take in everything you are learning as its moving so fast.
Again, going off what Ive read, the trainees used to come to the units with a lot more knowledge then they are currently. I think, from what I have seen at the assessment process, the unit training is seen as as much of a learning curve as the college. The trainers dont expect us to have the in depth knowledge at this stage, and yet Id imagine a proportion of the recruits think they have 'made it' when they get to the unit, so display an arrogance not matched by their prowess.
I think recruits from University, other jobs, anoraks and people directly from school would all struggle with such a system, its about proving you have what it takes through adversity, which is what I intend to do.