FOR more than 25 years, the very best of Britain’s frontline combat soldiers have all called North Yorkshire's Catterick Infantry Training Centre (ITC) home when undergoing the first stages of their training.

The establishment marked its 25th anniversary, albeit delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with a special day and a royal visit to Helles Barracks.

The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard, was on hand to witness a variety of activities, including a Gurkha taekwondo demonstration and a jump from the Red Devils parachute display team.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Taking pride of place among proceedings, however, were the 130 recruits of A Company who marched off the parade square, in front of family and friends, to begin their careers as trained infantry soldiers.

The centre is now almost unrecognisable compared to the day of its inception in 1995, but the principles of what it takes to be among such fighting men and women remain the same.

Newly-trained rifleman Cameron Askew, 21, said: “It makes you more mature.

"The situations that they put you through in training feel so real, this is probably the best infantry training in the world. I don’t think you’ll get anything better anywhere else.”

Such is the nature of the Army, these young men and women may one day find themselves back in Catterick, training the next generation and helping them to fulfil their potential.

Some of the permanent staff spoke of their pride in seeing what their protégés had achieved and were reminded of their own time under the tutelage of the ITC.

Corporal Niall Crawford, of the 4th Battalion (The Highlanders), The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “It gave me more responsibility. It is so rewarding seeing the recruits developing.

"I passed out of ITC in 2011; it’s a family tradition to join the Army and I had wanted to from a young age.”

The young troops, cheered on by their loved ones, will now go on to join their units based across the country.