HUNDREDS of junior soldiers proudly marched in front of their families during their passing-out parade.

More than 400 teenagers marched off to a new career with their chosen army regiments after graduating from the Army Foundation College in Penny Pot Lane, Harrogate.

And 22 of their number were presented with special trophies by the Army’s Adjutant-General, Lieutenant General Sir Gerald Berragan.

The college’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Oz Lane, said: “It’s not just about giving the junior soldiers basic military training.

“Many of the teenagers have struggled with mainstream education and have left high school with few, if any, qualifications. At the Army Foundation College they have an opportunity to get those qualifications and get enthused about learning.

“And it works, as the latest statistics prove.

“Of those that started the 42-week-long course in March last year, 67 per cent of the junior soldiers had Level One English or below. Level One is equivalent to a GCSE grade D-G.

“On graduation, 100 per cent of the them had achieved Level One, while 86 per cent had gained a Level Two qualification. That’s the equivalent of a GCSE A*-C.”

He added: “We have also had a tremendous success rate with maths, with 62 per cent of the teenagers arriving with Level One or below. On graduation, 95 per cent achieved Level One and 68 per cent Level Two. That achievement, alongside their military training, is simply immense.”