A teenage soldier from Burry Port won a top prize when he graduated from the Army Foundation College.
Junior Soldier Ieuan Jones (17) was named Best Junior Soldier at Leadership and Initiative Training/Adventurous Training at the prestigious military training establishment.
The former Ysgol Gyfun y Strade pupil was presented with his prize as part of a passing out parade from the college in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
More than 600 Junior Soldiers graduated from the college last week, going on to do their Phase 2 training.
Junior Jones said after winning his award: “I am very happy and my family is incredibly proud of me.
Photo: Sgt Jamie Peters RLC. Crown Copyright ©2015
“I have enjoyed the exercises and having had the opportunity to do a lot of adventure training and run cross country at a higher level.”
More than 4,000 family members and friends watched the Junior Soldiers take part in the largest military graduation parade in the country.
Mr Barry Dodd CBE, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, inspected the Junior Soldiers.
Lieutenant Colonel William Strickland, the College’s Commanding Officer said:
“It has been long and hard, and sometimes emotional. The majority proved equal to the test, and they are the future of the British Army. We are proud of their achievements and we are looking forward to their bright futures.“The soldiers of Waterloo and Cambrai Companies represent the very best of our nation’s young people. I have no doubt that they are fully armed and prepared for their second phase of training. I congratulate both Companies, both the Junior Soldiers and their instructors, on a job very well done.”
The college opened in 1998 and provides training for soldiers destined for all the Army’s many career paths.
The college runs two types of courses – a 20-week course and a longer 40-week course – with intakes in September and March.
There is a strong focus on education at the college and students also have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of sports and adventure training.For information on how to enrol at the Army Foundation College
