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750 Junior Soldiers Graduate from Army Foundation College Harrogate

Monday, 11 August 2025 12:28

Gareth Southgate at the graduation

A total of 750 Junior Soldiers have graduated from the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, marking the completion of their initial military training.

The graduation parade followed months of training for the 16- and 17-year-old recruits, including military skills, fitness, and education.

The programme concluded with a two-week battle camp and tactical exercise.

Successful completion of Phase 1 Training means the graduates will now move on to their respective units to undertake specialist trade training.

Former England Football Manager, Gareth Southgate joined the celebration.

Among the graduates were Junior Soldier Chloe De Stadler from Epsom, Surrey, and her mother, Army Reservist Sherene De Stadler, who completed her own initial training shortly before her daughter’s passing out parade.

Chloe will join the Army Air Corps as groundcrew, while Sherene will serve with the Grenadier Guards alongside her civilian career in gym management.

Junior Soldier Madalyn Laycock from Goole, Yorkshire, passed out in front of her father, Captain Graham Laycock, an instructor at the college who also trained there 26 years ago.

Madalyn plans to serve as a Combat Medical Technician with the Royal Army Medical Services.

More than 5,000 family members attended the event, which showcased the skills learned by the Junior Soldiers over the past year.

The college runs two intakes per year, offering courses lasting either 49 or 23 weeks.

You can find out more at their website here.

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