Royal approval for junior soldiers
PROUD parents and grandparents travelled to Harrogate from all parts of the country on Thursday to watch their sons and daughters graduate from the Army Foundation College.
There was added pride as the Inspecting Office and guest of honour was the Princess Royal.
The junior soldiers have completed a 42-week course, starting out as 16-year-old raw recruits last September. Since then they have completed their initial military training, and vocational education. They will begin their specialist training in the army after a three-week break.
The passing out parade, which involved 615 Junior Soldiers from Peninsula, Cambrai and Waterloo Companies, is the largest parade in the British Army outside Trooping the Colour.
The families were welcomed by the Commanding Officer of the College, Lt Col Steve Ocock. He told them: "The Junior Soldiers have taken that huge stride from childhood to adulthood and from civilian to soldier. Their achievement is simply immense.
"The men and women are a testament to the very best of this nation's young people and I have no doubt they are fully prepared 'to do the right thing on a difficult day.'"
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Weather for Ripon
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
