TWENTY students from all over Pembrokeshire who successfully completed the local Army Preparation Course (APC) have been honoured in a ceremony at Pembrokeshire College.
The awards ceremony was the culmination of 13 weeks of intensive activity during which students were tutored in a wide range of subjects, including communication techniques, team working and the ability to show initiative.
Ninety-five per cent of the original group of students successfully completed the course and, watched by their families, were presented with certificates by Mr. Glyn Jones, principal of Pembrokeshire College.
Special prizes were won by Daniel Anderson, 17, from Haverfordwest, who was named top male student, and Claire Evans, 17, from Tenby, who was selected as the Best Female Student.
Daniel has already been enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals, while Claire is hoping to pursue a career with the Royal Logistics Corps as a chef.
The ground-breaking course, run by the Army in partnership with ELWa, Careers Wales and Pembroke College, combines academic and personal development and vocational and physical training to prepare 16 to 18 year-olds for working life in the Army or elsewhere. Besides classroom-based training, including Key Skills Level 1 IT, an intense programme of fitness training is organised.
Major Ian Stewart, Army Careers Officer for Swansea, said the course offers students the chance to enjoy activities they may otherwise never experience.
"The aim of the course is to enable young people to make an informed decision about a career in the Army. However, students are under no obligation and should they choose not to enlist at the end, they will leave with a range of additional qualifications which will be of great benefit in any future job search," he said.
"The students work really hard over the 13 weeks, but there's a lot of fun involved too and at the end of the course, it's great to see the friendships that have built up and how much confidence levels within the group have grown," he said.
The next APC starts in Pembrokeshire on January 21, and more information on joining the course and/or the Army can be found at the Army Careers Information Office, The Dalton VC Centre, Freemans Way, Haverfordwest (tel: 01437 767329). Information regarding this course can also be obtained from Pembrokeshire College on (01437) 765247.