Students to get taste of life in the Army

Young people aged 14-17 from Marlborough, Chippenham and Pewsey will take part in a series of activities set by the Army to stretch their physical and mental abilities and build teamwork and leadership skills.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three schools each day and a Challenge Trophy will be awarded for the week's overall winner.

Over the four days, 1,100 young people in teams of ten will compete in the challenge at the base of 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support) in Colerne, Wiltshire.

The activities will include an indoor water obstacle course, a climbing tower, kart building challenge and initiative tests.

The trials were created by Army units from the region with a range of specialist skills including engineering, logistics, combat and IT and communications.

Young soldiers will be on hand to guide students through each activity, and talk about the wide range of jobs the Army can offer.

The Army is keen to highlight its wide range of roles and responsibilities from chefs to vets, from mechanics to police officers, musicians to dog handlers, drivers to accountants, linguists to nurses.

Major Dennis Stone, senior Army recruiter for the area and organiser of the event, said: "The Army are the experts in building teamwork and leadership qualities and a lot of the students will use skills they never knew they had during the activities.

"There's a huge variety of jobs of available in the Army but whether they're an infantry soldier or medic, communications expert or tank driver, a soldier in today's Army has to work as part of a team and be able to cope with a host of challenges.

"This is a great opportunity for young men and women to meet a variety of soldiers, experience a taste of the Army and hopefully have an exciting and enjoyable day as well."

St John's School and Community College, Marlborough, Hardenhuish School, Chippenham and Pewsey Vale School, Pewsey are among those taking part.