THE head of the Army in Scotland and the North East joined proud parents at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate as junior soldiers marched out in style.

Major General Nick Parker, the General Officer Commanding the Army's 2nd Division, inspected 380 16-year-old students at the college in Pennypot Lane, on his first official public engagement in the area.

The junior soldiers from Burma and Alamein companies joined the college in January this year for a 12-month course, which involves a unique combination of military skills and vocational qualifications.

Maj Gen Parker took the salute as the junior soldiers from across the UK "passed out" of the college, watched by the Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Guy Deacon and members of staff.

The students now go on to receive specialist training for either the Infantry, Royal Artillery or Royal Armoured Corps.

They have had the opportunity to achieve a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 or 3 in Information Technology and the six Key Skills at level 2 or 3 leading to the award of the Foundation Modern Apprenticeship.

Many have also achieved Duke of Edinburgh awards and first aid qualifications from St John Ambulance. "The graduation of Burma and Alamein Companies marks the individual achievements, over 42 weeks, of all the 380 male and female Army students on parade on Friday," said Lieutenant Colonel Deacon.

"I would like to pay tribute to the motivation and commitment shown by these young men and women and to their families for their support. Central to their success has been the dedication and professionalism of the permanent staff who will watch them graduate."

The Army Foundation College caters for 1,344 junior soldiers each year that will provide the Army with its potential senior non-commissioned officers of the future.

The next intake of 504 Junior Soldiers to the college is in January 2003.

Updated: 09:41 Monday, December 23, 2002