Mike Penning visits Army Training Regiment, Pirbright
3rd March 2006
Mike Penning visited the Army Training Regiment (ATR) at Pirbright and revived memories of his first visit…..,er,….many years ago!
Mike Penning met with young army recruits who are attending their 12 week Stage 1 Training course at the Army Training Regiment, Pirbright. The visit brought back many memories of his own year spent at Pirbright as a junior soldier. “So much has changed since then, but it was nice to see that there is much that is the same. The most noticeable change is seeing men and women recruits training together,” he said.
Mike met with a new squad who had arrived at Pirbright just this week and also a platoon who have completed the course and will pass out this week. They will now go on for further training and probably specialist training after that. They come from all over the UK and some from Commonwealth countries and Mike met with some recruits from Fiji. The recruits he met ranged in ages from 16 to 28.
Mike Penning said:
“I am proud to meet these fantastic young men and women who are volunteering to serve their country. Unlike in previous years, these recruits know full well that they will certainly be called on to serve their country in a conflict situation overseas very soon. The formidable training given to new recruits at Pirbright enables the army to turn them into the best soldiers in the world.”
The UK forces are currently deployed in more locations overseas than at any time since the end of World War 2.
Mike discussed a range of issues with the recruits and the training staff.
“Training staff raised concerns about the level of fitness in new recruits arriving at Pirbright and some consideration may need to be given to extending the course,” he said.
