Up for it? TA issues the 2010 Shamrock Challenge

It doesn’t sound like the most relaxing way to spend a Summer, but it’s a prospect that is expected to have people from County Londonderry queuing up!

Exercise Shamrock Challenge, the Territorial Army’s fast track training and entry scheme, has proved so popular that, for the first time, places are to be rationed.

The annual scheme gives would-be Territorials the opportunity to tackle the traditionally grueling TA induction training within just one very un-traditional month. Instead of training in bite sized chunks on evenings and weekends at their local TA Centre Shamrock Challenge recruits pack it all into a few short weeks.

Regimental Sergeant Major Jimmy Johnston at the 38 (Irish) Brigade Regional Training Centre at Ballykinler in County Down is involved in training for both the Regular and Territorial Army.

He says, “People will still be welcomed into our local TA units in Londonderry and across the county to see for themselves what TA life is all about and we will continue, there and elsewhere, to offer the conventional entry and training style.

For many, however, the opportunity to fast-track is the new, favoured introduction into military life – so much so that places for the 2010 courses are being strictly limited.

“Our approach for 2010 is also slightly different in that we won’t necessarily assume that anyone recruited in Londonderry will automatically want to serve in their home town, although right on their own doorstep they do have several very active TA units, including 253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment and 152 (Ulster) Transport Regiment RLC (Volunteers).

Exercise Shamrock Challenge emphasizes the importance and value of placing new TA entries in the unit which best suits their abilities and interests. Londonderry and the surrounding area has always proved a rich recruiting ground for the Territorial Army and we look forward to seeing that reflected in strong local interest for this latest round of recruitment.”

Applications are invited now for an Infantry course which will run at Ballykinler Training Camp in County Down from 25 July and 28 August and for an ‘other arms’ course which will run from 6 August and 4 September, split between Ballykinler and a training camp at Pirbright outside London.

While the TA’s recruiting chiefs are confident that they are offering excellent and exciting part-time career opportunities at a time when good jobs seem harder than ever to find, they admit to being a little surprised by the success of Shamrock Challenge.”

For further information about Exercise Shamrock Challenge and about full and part time career opportunities with the Army visit www.armyjobs.mod.uk/ni