Youngest soldiers 'pass in'

Watched by families and friends, the 644 Junior Soldiers from Waterloo, Cambrai and Peninsula Companies took part in the ‘passing-in’ parade at Uniacke Barracks at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate to mark their first six weeks of training.

Removing their college berets and replacing them with new regimental headdresses represented the end of their first period of initial training. The teenagers are destined to join the infantry, Royal Artillery, Royal Armoured Corps and Royal Logistic Corps.

The 16- and 17-year-olds began a programme of military, leadership, educational and vocational training at the college last month and will finish the 42-week course next August. They will then undertake specialist phase two training elsewhere in the UK before joining their regiments. Pictures: Gary Longbottom.