There's no room for error: Gurkhas get to grips with urban warfare training

The latest intake of Gurkhas have been going through their urban warfare training as they continue their long journey to pass out as fully fledged soldiers. 

The trainee riflemen have been practising their drills and tactics at the Whinney Hill training area at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire. 

It is one of the most formidable tests these aspiring soldiers will face – where there is no room for error. 

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They are learning about the dangers and challenges as well as how to overcome them under the instructors of the Infantry Training College Catterick. 

Trainee Rifleman Surithang Lawati said: "This is our first urban training. We are learning the techniques and tactics to operate in urban areas.

"In urban areas we have to operate in the buildings which are very narrow, and we don't have enough space to go from one direction to another direction.

"Our Guruji is teaching us new things and new techniques and tactics so we are becoming comfortable as well as confident."

The recruits are being taught to fight building to building, floor to floor and room to room to eliminate any enemy. 

Teamwork is an important part of this and making sure everyone knows their job and everyone knows how to carry it out is key.

Trainee Rifleman Bikash Rai added: "Every person has their own role in this attack and without them we can't achieve our mission.

"So, every individual person has their own goals and their own targets.

"At first, we did not know how to attack and we have practised a lot of time and slowly we built our confidence."

It is a steep learning curve for the recruits who are learning everything in just a matter of days and the pressure is on – Gurkhas simply don't fail. 

The trainee riflemen have gone through so much to get to this point that failure is unthinkable. 

But the staff training these new recruits are very happy with what they have seen from those on the course.

Sergeant Amir Chamling from the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment said: "When I was here as a full screw, I used to teach them and talking about their input is quite paramount every time.

"Not only here in the exercise, back in the barracks they do their own time in drills and everything.

"So I think because of that reason I think their skills are quite sharpened when they come to the exercise.

"Being a full screw before and sergeant now I can say that our boys work very hard to get to where they are now."

Just over 300 are on this course – whittled down from thousands back in Nepal. 

There is a lot to take in over their nine months in training. Alongside learning to be a soldier – they're learning to live in another country far from home. 

"From coming to the UK until now I think it has helped me to develop a lot because since day one we are all on learning purpose because we are here to learn throughout our training and training is there to get us to learn different things," Trainee Rifleman Liyan Limbu added.

"I think 'til now I have learned different things from barrack discipline to my own admin or do any kinds of drill in jungle or in urban areas. 

"It has helped me to develop a lot and it has helped me to build confidence, communication and how to be on my own.

"And how to see the world in a different way."