The Territorial Army celebrates its centenary as part of Britain's reserve land forces today. Ben Barnett found out more about the district's part-time soldiers who include members of the elite Parachute Regiment, a squadron of medics and a logistical unit.

A key component in the nation's military operations at home and abroad, TA soldiers from Bradford support the regular British Army by performing demolitions, water supply, bridging, construction tasks, communications, driving and heavy plant operation.

Throughout its history, almost every major military operation, from the Battle of the Somme to modern day conflicts, has involved TA soldiers operating alongside their regular counterparts.

Two units based at the Belle Vue Barracks in Manningham Lane, Bradford, and the Parachute Regiment in Pudsey are cogs in a highly-skilled and well-oiled machine.

Belle Vue Barracks are run by 212 Field Hospital which formed in July 1999 and is made up of 120 people including civilian doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

By lending their skills to the military, its members help care for and treat the nation's soldiers around the world.

The squadron was given the highest military honour by Bradford in 2001, when it was handed the Freedom of the City by the-then Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, at a ceremony in Centenary Square. It means the volunteers are entitled to parade through the city with bayonets fixed.

Also based in Manningham Lane is the 30-strong satellite 2 troop of 106 Field Squadron.

Although the squadron headquarters are in Greenhill, Sheffield, the home of two other troops, the Bradford unit plays an important role in attracting the fittest and most enthusiastic recruits from West Yorkshire.

Each member is trained in one of 67 trades from artisan trades such as electrician, carpenter and bricklayer to signaller, plant operator, mechanic or heavy goods vehicle driver. Through these trades recruits learn life skills which can help them beyond their career in the Army.

Among the ranks at Belle Vue is Lance Corporal Petra Fantom. The 24-year-old has just become the squadron's physical training instructor - the first in the north east brigade and only the second female to pass the course in the country.

It took a gruelling 15 days of sweat and toil as she was put through her paces by a team of assessors. Her newly-acquired status is seen as the benchmark for all physical training in the Army.

Lance Corporal Fantom said: "As the TA's getting more integrated into the regular army, the fitness of our soldiers is a massively important factor and as a PTI my role is quite important."

Next up for the instructor is a six-month deployment to Cyprus in November as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force.

She was presented with her instructor's certificate by the troop commander Lieutenant Glenn Williams who has led his charges in Bradford since the unit formed in December 2006.

He is responsible for the training and welfare of his soldiers, and ensuring they are fully-equipped. He said fitness was the cornerstone of the TA as the military seeks to draw its reserve forces closer to the regular army.

"Petra Fantom is one of our star candidates here in Bradford. Physical fitness is becoming increasingly important. As we see on the news, the TA is deploying out there with the Royal Marines and the parachute regiments on the front line," he said.

"To go out there and under that kind of heat, carrying that amount of kit in body armour with the amount of water you have got to drink and run around and fight a battle - the amount of fitness that's required is similar to an athlete. Your fitness always has to come first."

Lt William's troop is one of three units of the 106 Squadron which, in turn, is under the command of the 72 Engineer Regiment and is split into troops, one based in Bradford and two in Sheffield.

The history of 106 Field squadron can be traced back to 1859 when a Sheffield headmaster took it upon himself to raise an exclusively engineer's unit. As part of the 49th Division, the squadron has seen action in the Boer War and the First and Second World Wars. It was involved with the Atlantic Convoys and the North African landings.

In 1949 the squadron was demobilised and 18 years later the 49th Division was disbanded. The engineer regiments reformed in the Seventies and the 72 Engineer Regiment was formed in April 2007.

Those at Belle Vue have a TA neighbour in the Pudsey 4th Battalion Parachute Regiment. Formed in 1942 and based in barracks in Thornbury, the regiment is now being lined up for deployment in Afghanistan.

Lt Williams said he was keen to hear from potential recruits in Bradford. He said: "In the TA you can pretty much do anything, from a Royal Engineer to a Commando Engineer to diving, any kind of demolitions, roadways construction, a welder, the trades there are absolutely endless. The opportunities are there if you want to go and get them.

"If you want to join the TA you could come out of it, as well as being fit, switched on and learning leadership skills, with things like your HGV licence. If you can't drive we can teach you."

l Anyone who wants more information about enlisting with the Territorial Army should call 0845 7300 111.