LOCAL soldier, Lance Corporal Nic Webster-Smith, is set to enforce law and order all over the world after successfully completing the tough course to become a military police officer, the famous Red Caps.
Nic, 20, is one of a select group of young soldiers who can now officially wear the striking red beret of the army's police and be sent to any of the military bases across the globe.
Becoming a Royal Military Police (RMP) officer involves 23 weeks of dedicated work and long hours of study. After being selected for training, candidates have to absorb information on all aspects of law and order, as well as proving their ability to deal with suspects and victims in what may be emotional or dangerous situations.
Report writing and revision must be slotted in around demanding physical training. And in the final stage of the course, candidates work on a shift system to man a simulated police station 24 hours a day. Incidents can come in at any time, and any interviews will be filmed for assessment.
Added to all that, training is constantly reviewed and updated to reflect the current situation the soldiers may have to face wherever they are serving.
The RMP course has a considerable drop out rate. Soldiers passing out at the end of the sometimes- gruelling challenge can feel that they have definitely earned the right to wear the red beret.
Talking about the job, Nic said: "When you pass out of training you are given the rank of lance corporal and the responsibility that goes with it and the opportunity to carve a worthwhile career with the best army in the world.
"I'd like to specialise in close protection eventually and become an instructor at one of the Army training regiments. That's my aim at the moment.
"My parents are really proud of what I have achieved, moving away and standing on my own feet, plus passing everything that was thrown at me. On the other hand, they obviously worry about me being sent on operations, but we are well trained for it.
"I'm starting with 160 Provost Company in Aldershot, but in the RMP we tend to move around more often than the average soldier, so the world is my beat."
Nic attended Greenhill School, Tenby and worked as a football development coach for Pembrokeshire County Council before joining the Army last year. His parents Richard and Jacqueline live in the area.