Army's next generation of soldiers get inspired by Honorary Colonel Bear Grylls

Junior soldiers from Army Foundation College Harrogate have received a special navigation lesson from their Honorary Colonel, Bear Grylls.

The bestselling author, TV personality and former Army Reservist took up his role in July - a position previously held by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Col Grylls delivered an "inspiring message" to the young recruits of 17 Platoon, extolling the values and standards of the British Army - along with hard work and perseverance.

• Proud Honorary Colonel Bear Grylls inspects passing out parade of junior soldiers
• New Colonel Bear becomes the top dog at Army Foundation College Harrogate
• Army Foundation College at 100% capacity as newest recruits arrive for basic training

The Commanding Officer at AFC Harrogate, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Butler, took to X to share his thanks to the Honorary Colonel.

He said: "Huge thanks to our Honorary Colonel Bear Grylls for a great visit to AFC(H).

"Such an inspiring message about values, friendship, hard work and never giving up.

Pretty cool to have a navigation lesson from Bear Grylls during British Army basic training!"

In August, the Honorary Colonel performed his first official duty in his role inspecting a passing out parade of 600 junior soldiers.

He told Forces News "no young soldier forgets their first pass-out parade" and remarked how the Army's latest generation of young soldiers were about to embark on the "ultimate adventure".

"That is an iconic moment in their lives and the pride in these young soldiers' eyes is remarkable," he said.

Col Grylls, who spent three years with 21 SAS Regiment before breaking his back in a parachute accident, said the Army Foundation College was inspirational.

"[It] gives young people a chance to really make something… really pursue something that's going to transform their life for the better," he said.

He also explained back in August how a career in the British Army would "give them friendships for life, give them access to incredible adventures, but also give them access to a career and a family that is unlike any other".

"I'm… very proud to be Honorary Colonel to the college and full of admiration for the incredible work that so many of the staff do as well, to encourage young people at a time when the world really needs that," the new Honorary Colonel said.

In September, it emerged that that the Army Foundation College was at full capacity for the autumn thanks to a significant intake of recruits.

The establishment provides phase one training to the Army's youngest soldiers, 16 and 17-year-olds who are embarking on a career in the military.

As a new term at the college gets underway, it welcomes 945 youngsters who will benefit from the co-military and further educational syllabus the establishment provides to recruits.

Courses at AFC Harrogate run for either 49 or 23 weeks depending on the corps or regiment a recruit is hoping to join.