parents will look on proudly today as junior soldiers graduate from their first phase of military training.
The 16-year-olds joined the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in January, for a course offering military skills and vocational qualifications.
The Army's commander of the Initial Training Group, Brigadier Roy Wilde, will inspect the 400 students and take the salute as they pass out of the college, watched by the commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Garnett.
The students will now receive specialist training in their chosen discipline - infantry, Royal Artillery or Royal Armoured Corps.
Lt Col Garnett said: "The graduation of Burma and Alamein Companies marks the individual achievements, over 42 weeks, of all the 400 male and female Army students.
"Not only have they all passed a demanding military syllabus, but over 80 per cent have qualified for a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship. Their parents and guardians will feel justly proud, as do we, the permanent staff."
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