12:17pm Monday 7th July 2008
By Gazette Reporter
Two soldiers from Swindon will be marching back on to home ground next week to talk to other young people about the training, travel and sporting opportunities offered by a career in the Army.
Trooper Jamie Cooper, 20, from Wootton Bassett and Trooper John Painter, 25, from Coleshill will be spending one week (14th - 18th July) at the Army Careers Information Office in Swindon. Both soldiers are following in the footsteps of their fathers who have served in the Armed Forces. Jamie's father was an aircraft technician in the Royal Air Force and John's father served in the Royal Green Jackets.
Jamie joined the Army last year, having previously worked as a roofer for a local company. He has recently completed full military training as a challenger 2 crewman and is now a serving member of the King's Royal Hussars. To achieve this he completed 14 weeks training at the Army Training Regiment in Winchester, where he learnt basic soldiering skills, including map reading, field craft, first aid and physical training. After completing phase one training he moved to Bovington, Dorset where he specialised in the areas of communication and driving and maintaining Armoured Fighting Vehicles.
John joined the Army in 2007, having previously worked as a farmer. He has recently completed full military training as a Challenger 2 crewman and is now a serving member if the 1st Royal Tank Regiment. To achieve this he completed basic training at the Army Training Regiment in Winchester; followed by phase two training at Bovington, Dorset.
John said: "Since joining the Army last year, I have learnt so many new skills, made new friends and even learnt to drive, which was a real highlight. I have always had a keen interest in playing sports and I knew that a career in the Army would allow me to develop this further.
"The opportunity to travel also appealed to me, and as part of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment I could be using my skills anywhere in the world. The Army has already opened up so many doors for me and I'm really excited about the challenging and rewarding career ahead."
Serjeant Lambert, Army recruiter in Swindon, comments: "We are delighted to welcome Jamie and John back to Swindon. Having completed training, they are the ideal candidates to offer an honest insight into the numerous training and career opportunities available in the Army.
"I hope that other young people take this opportunity to talk to them and find out more about Army life. I would like to wish Jamie and John every success as they progress in their careers and I am confident that the Army will continually support them in reaching their full potential."
The Army is one of UK's largest employers and is made up of 140 different jobs in areas such as IT & Communications, Healthcare, Engineering, HR/Admin & Finance, Logistics and of course, Combat. Soldiers can learn a wide range of skills, from learning to drive and group management techniques through to NVQs and Modern Apprenticeship qualifications for a variety of jobs. Whatever your interest, the Army has a role for you: from chefs to vets, from dentists to police officers, musicians to postal workers, drivers to accountants, linguists to chaplains.
Young people wanting more information on the range of opportunities the modern British Army has to offer can visit the Swindon Army Careers Information Office, Church Place (Tel: 01793 523 251). For general enquiries, call 0845 7300 111 or log on to www.armyjobs.mod.uk
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk