Army

Junior Soldiers March Past General Sir Peter Wall at Graduation Parade

Junior Soldiers marched past the Head of the Army, General Sir Peter Wall at their graduation parade at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate.

More than 550 junior soldiers and staff from Cambrai, Peninsula, Alamein and Burma companies took part in the parade at Uniacke Barracks in front of over 4,000 relatives and friends. The parade of seventeen-year-old students from two intakes joined the college in Penny Pot Lane in September last year and March this year. The parade is only exceeded in size by the Trooping of the Colour held in London.

General Wall GCB CBE ADC is finishing as Chief of the General Staff in September and the graduation parade at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate was the last graduation parade as an inspecting officer in his current role.

He inspected the Junior Soldiers from all over the UK and took the salute when they graduated from the college watched by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Oz Lane and members of his staff. The four companies marched onto the parade square led by the Band of the Royal Armoured Corps. Following the inspection and salute, prizes were awarded to the best recruits.

“You have developed the key personal and military skills which will not only prepare you for success at Phase 2 but also act as the foundations for a successful career in the Field Army,” said General Wall.

“This journey has seen a huge transition from 16 year old civilians to men and women prepared to take their place in the British Army - a very exclusive club.”

The College now takes in Junior Soldiers on two types of course – a 20 week course and a longer 41 week course. The short course delivers basic training to the Junior Soldiers from Alamein and Burma companies before they leave to follow their longer and more specialist technical training. They also have the opportunity to gain Functional Skills Qualifications in English, Maths and ICT as well as driver theory training.

The longer course consists of a unique combination of military skills and vocational qualifications before the Junior Soldiers from Cambrai and Peninsula move on to phase 2 training in their chosen trade or specialism. They have the opportunity to achieve a City and Guilds apprenticeship for Information Technology users at Level 2, incorporating Functional Skills. Many have also achieved a Duke of Edinburgh award.

He praised the college staff and the families for the support they had given the Junior Soldiers as they worked towards their new careers and he urged the families to continue this.

He concluded by reminding the Junior soldiers of the Values and Standards of the British Army – courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and respect for others.

“Critically you have adopted a new set of values and standards which if retained will stand you in good stead not only during your military career but for the rest of your lives,” he said.

The College’s leadership and initiative training package see Junior Soldiers work on their leadership and team skills. They undertake a number of adventurous training activities, as well as physical and mental challenges, culminating in a 30 hour challenge patrol across the Yorkshire Dales. The students are also given the opportunity to sample a wide variety of sports promoting fitness and agility.

Many have just returned from their final exercise in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. The arduous exercise is the culmination of their field-craft and military skills training.

“Graduation is a proud day for our Junior Soldiers as they have finished the first part of their training and are looking forward to what lies ahead in their new careers,” said Lieutenant Colonel Lane.

“Their time at Harrogate has tested them physically and mentally, stretched them to new limits and greatly enhanced their talents and abilities.“

The college opened in 1998 and provides training for 1344 soldiers destined for all the Army’s many career paths. It has two intakes of students a year in September and March.