A Pakistani national with a Masters degree wants to make the most of his linguistic skills by serving in the British Army.

Sajid Ahmad, 23, of Manningham, speaks Pashto, the first language spoken by only 15 per cent of his countrymen, mostly in the North West Frontier Province.

Yesterday, he was one of a group of nine Bradford recruits to enlist with the Yorkshire Regiment at the Army Careers Information Office in Bradford.

Mr Ahmad’s ambition is to become an officer and his Army career starts with a 26-week training course at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

In preparation for the routine to come, Mr Ahmad, who has lived in the UK for two years, spends two hours in the gym and runs two miles every day. He said: “I like the disciplined life of the Army, you live an adventure. It’s going to be tough but I’m going to enjoy myself.

“It’s the same army culture as Pakistan. In our country we serve a ruler and the best characters from our army are sent to Sandhurst, so I’m starting in the best place.”

For 16-year-old Daniel Taylor, of Wibsey, joining the Army was an easy decision.

The former Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College pupil said: “It was either that or prison. I was getting into trouble and I thought I needed to get my life sorted out.”

Recruits as young as him spend six months at Winchester Army Development Centre practising drills, map reading, first aid and nuclear biological warfare defence.

Former Hanson School pupil Lee Rajas, 16, of Bolton Woods is joining him in Winchester.

He said the thought of one day fighting in a warzone did not trouble him.

He said: “I can’t wait, you’ve got to live it. Once you have been close to death there is nothing to be scared of.”

Fellow recruit, former Nab Wood School pupil Daniel Mathers, 16, of Allerton, said: “Joining the Army is something I’ve wanted to do for years. You get to travel the world and meet new people. I know people in the Army already and they say good things about it.”

Former Rhodesway School pupil, Matthew Riley, 18, also of Allerton, said: “It’s the best trained Army in the world. It’s a big team, like a big family.”

Anthony Walsh, 21, of Wibsey, was unemployed before he enlisted and is rejoining the Army after a previous stint in the Royal Army Corps.

The other recruits are Adam Robinson, 17, of Buttershaw, Chris Shepherd, 16, of Allerton, and David Kerr, 19, of Eastburn, near Keighley.

Staff Sergeant Shamim Ahmed, of the Royal Logistics Corps, who enlisted at Bradford Army Careers Information Office 28 years ago, said: “My hopes are that they all get through training, they enjoy it, they all learn skills for life and when they come back they become pillars of their own societies.”

e-mail: ben.barnett @telegraphandargus.co.uk