Proud Honorary Colonel Bear Grylls inspects passing out parade of junior soldiers

Bear Grylls has performed his first official duty as Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, inspecting a passing out parade of 600 junior soldiers.

He told Forces News "no young soldier forgets their first pass-out parade" and the British Army's latest generation of young soldiers are 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.

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"It's the beginning of the adventure. The Army is an inspirational family where you can do so much, but it's never going to force itself.

"You've got to seek out that challenge, find something you love, a branch of the military that you really love, pursue it, and then the Army will always encourage and support that. 

"But I think you have to be resilient, you have to keep fit, obviously, and you've got to be curious. You've got to want to keep growing and challenging and learning.

"If you do that, you're… set for an incredible career."

Colonel Grylls, who himself spent three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, as part of the Reserve's 21 SAS Regiment, only took up his new role a month ago - with the position previously held by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

He said the Army Foundation College is inspirational as it "gives young people a chance to really make something… really pursue something that's going to transform their life for the better".

He added that a career in the British Army will "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.

"We need something that brings people together, provides pride and British pride. A British challenge, for young people.

"And nobody does that better than here at Harrogate."

The recruits will now enjoy some well-earned rest before heading off to their new regiments.