A WORCESTER teenage soldier has been awarded a top honour after he graduated from the Army Foundation College.
Junior Soldier Connor Evans was named Best Junior Soldier in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at the prestigious military training establishment.
The 17-year-old former River School student 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, before going on to do their Phase 2 training.
Junior Evans said after winning his award: “I am very happy that I’ve been awarded this prize.
“It will give me the opportunity to travel with my job, allowing me to work anywhere in the world.
“The best part of being at the college is meeting new people and learning new skills.”
More than 4,000 family members and friends watched the junior soldiers take part in the largest military graduation parade in the country.
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.
Visit www.army.mod.uk/juniorsoldier for information on how to enrol at the Army Foundation College.
