Navy brings back 'press gang'

New naval recruits are being tested on their ironing skills

Never mind the interview board - the navy is to bring out the ironing board in its pressing search for new recruits.

The service says it has found that in recent years the number of trainee officers who know how to iron their uniform properly has declined rapidly.

So now, before their mettle is tested on obstacle courses or in interviews, it is giving them a lesson in domestic chores.

The new training - which brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'press gang' - sees would-be naval officers given full instructions in how to care for their kit.

Training session

Royal Marines careers officer Captain Dan Venables said: "A lot of the lads and girls we have joining have never ironed - ever.

Bosses found many trainee officers could not iron

"These days you don't need to iron to go out in the evening if you are just wearing jeans and a t-shirt, it is not a skill you would use at home."

One would-be officer said he enjoyed the impromptu training session during a recruitment day in Bristol.

"I think it has been quite enlightening," he said. "I've never done any ironing at home and it has been quite good to get up in front of an ironing board and have a go at shirts and trousers."

Kit muster

The mother of one young recruit said: "He's never done any ironing before so it was quite a treat watching him - I'm surprised it didn't come out worse than it did but he was OK."

And another's father added: "We've got plenty of shirts for him to practise on at home before he joins up."

If that doesn't do the trick, the new recruits' bosses have plenty of ways to drum the lesson into them quickly.

"We have various methods, including taking them out for a night-time run through the mud followed by a kit muster the next morning where they have to lay out all their kit - which must be absolutely clean - and have it inspected," said Capt Venables.