Fast-Track TA Entry 'Rationed'

A scheme to by-pass months of part-time training for would-be TA soldiers has been a victim of its own success.

Exercise Shamrock Challenge, the Territorial Army's fast track training and entry scheme, has proved so popular that, for the first time, places this summer are to be 'rationed'.

The annual scheme gives would-be Territorials the opportunity to tackle the traditionally grueling TA induction training within just one very un-traditional month.

Instead of training in bite sized chunks on evenings and weekends at their local TA Centre Shamrock Challenge recruits pack it all into a few short weeks.

They rise early for a day packed with pulse-pounding physical challenges, a ration pack 'lunch' followed by an afternoon hike, PT and weapons training followed by an evening packed with mentally draining classroom lectures.

While the conventional entry approach is still an option but, for many, the opportunity to fast- track is a favoured introduction into military life – so much so that places for the 2010 courses are being strictly limited.

Applications are invited now for an Infantry course which will run at Ballykinler Training Camp in Co Down from 25 July and 28 August and for an 'other arms' course which will run from 6 August and 4 September, split between Ballykinler and a training camp at Pirbright outside London.

Regimental Sergeant Major Jimmy Johnston at the 38 (Irish) Brigade Regional Training Centre at Ballykinler is involved in training for both the Regular and Territorial Army. "We make no apologies for being tough with our trainees for they have to take on an awful lot of knowledge and experience within a few very short weeks if they are to come up to the mark and 'graduate' at our Passing Out ceremonies.

"We have a total of just 90 places on Shamrock Challenge and we will only take the best. Fortunately high standards are actually encouraging a high rate of applications," he said.

Brigadier Ed Smyth-Osbourne, Commander 38 Irish Brigade, commented: "When we launched this intensive entry course just a few years ago we thought that it would be most attractive to people who traditionally have the summer off such as students and those in the education sector.

"We also recognised that it would be a great entry point for people currently out of work and therefore able and willing to devote a month to a demanding residential course," he said, but experience has shown however that Shamrock Challenge attracts a much more diverse audience and interests and age ranges vary considerably.

"This year it will be even tougher to qualify for a place and commitment is at the very top of our selection wish list.

"We are able to impose those standards simply because Exercise Shamrock Challenge has demonstrated its capacity to attract and train excellent people …. and excellence is what the TA is all about," he insisted.

For further information about Exercise Shamrock Challenge and about full and part time career opportunities with the Army visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk/ni/

(BMcC/GK)