More signing up for Army

Apr 11 2008 by Jessica Flynn, South Wales Echo

THE Army has reported a surge in new recruits from one of its career offices in the South Wales Valleys.

In the past year alone 90 young people joined the establishment from the Pontypridd office.

Since April 2007 a large spread of local recruits from across the Rhondda Cynon Taff and Rhymney Valleys have enlisted at Pontypridd’s Army Careers Information Office on Gelliwastad Road.

The total of new recruits, who have entered into a wide range of careers with the Army, includes 14 women.

Rob McGregor, warrant officer Class 2 from the Army Careers information office in Pontypridd, welcomed the surge in new recruits.

He said: “We’re always on the lookout for talented new recruits with the right aptitude and attitude and I’m delighted that so many young people have chosen an exciting career with the Army over the past year.

“Our recent recruits have entered a huge variety of jobs – including positions such as nurses and medics, chefs, dog handlers, vehicle mechanics, policemen and HGV drivers.

“Interestingly this year too, we’ve seen a huge increase in HR clerks. I’d like to wish them all the very best for the future and look forward to seeing many more through our doors in the coming months.”

The new figure comes just weeks after the issue of military recruitment came under fire from a teaching union.

At the National Union of Teachers’ annual conference last month the union voted to boycott armed forces recruitment activities in South Wales schools.

But the Ministry of Defence insisted school visits were about “awareness raising” rather than recruitment.

jessica.flynn@ mediawales.co.uk