A team of students from Greenhill Comprehensive School pitted their physical and mental skills against five other Pembrokeshire schools in the first heat of the 2004 South West Wales Military Challenge.

The event, which took place last week at the Army's Cawdor Barracks, near Haverfordwest, is part of a regional challenge organised by the Army in partnership with Careers Wales West. The eventual winners from Pembroke School now go forward to a South West Wales final on April 1 at Carmarthen Showground.

The competition saw teams from six Pembrokeshire schools take part in a series of challenges designed to emphasise the importance of teamwork and aid in the development of key skills. As well as physical effort, teams need to focus on planning, problem solving under pressure how to communicate and work effectively as a team - all vital skills used routinely in the Army.

In addition to Greenhill, teams were entered by Pembroke School, Milford School, Ysgol Dewi Sant in St. Davids and Tasker Milward VC School and Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest.

The teams took it in turns to complete the simulated command tasks set by the Army, that included retrieving medical supplies from a live minefield, putting up a tent whilst blindfolded, a river crossing and a team obstacle course.

Representatives from five regiments helped to run the event - the Queen's Dragoon Guards, Welsh Guards, Royal Regiment of Wales, Royal Welch Fusiliers and 14EW Signals Regiment.

Major Philip Rees from the Swansea Armed Forces Careers Office was keen to point out that while some of the teenagers are actually considering Army careers, the event is far wider reaching.

"The Military Challenge is a joint venture with Careers Wales West and has proved to be a great success with the young people and with the schools. It provides a fun but challenging method of delivering curriculum based requirements based on Key Skills. The challenges are based on skills that are important for Army life, but can also help students as they progress into other careers.

"All the students taking part were really enthusiastic. They got stuck into the challenges and worked well together - the final result was very close."

For further information about Army careers or the Military Challenge, please contact the Armed Forces Careers Office, 17-19 Castle Street, Swansea (01792 653362), or visit http://www.armyjobs.co.uk">www.armyjobs.co.uk