Training for war in 28 weeks

By Sallie George
BBC News, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire

As the Ministry of Defence denied reports that training for some soldiers could be cut to meet shortages in Afghanistan, BBC News spoke to new recruits to find out why they signed up - and how they feel about being sent to war.

Bayonet fighting is considered the 'ultimate' challenge for recruits

Less than a month after he finishes training to become a fully-fledged soldier of the British army, Stuart Blower will fly to Iraq to begin a two-and-a-half month tour of duty.

Private Blower, 24, signed up for the Army after becoming fed up with his job as a chef.

Now in his 21st week of training, he said he was not put off by the prospect of entering a war zone less than eight months after arriving as a raw recruit.

"I haven't really thought about Iraq yet, my aim is just to pass out in March and after that I'll start thinking about it more", he said.

"But I'm glad I'm going. Iraq and Afghanistan didn't put me off - it was probably one of the reasons why I joined the Army."

About 3,500 recruits pass through the British Army's Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire every year, with about 2,700 completing the gruelling 28-week course.

Designed to teach recruits the skills required to operate as an infantry soldier anywhere in the world, the course includes rifle training, health and fitness, tactics and warfare strategy.

If they are having to fix their bayonets it means they are in a pretty dire situation Captain Henry Willi In pictures: Soldiers training

Bayonet training is considered the "ultimate" challenge for the soldiers, and is undertaken towards the end of their training course.

With bayonets fixed, recruits must complete an assault course of tunnels, barbed wire and rubble, before attacking the enemy.

Captain Henry Willi said: "The bayonet is probably the most intimidating weapon the British army has to offer.

"It instils mental and physical robustness required to leave here and carry out operations.

"We are putting them into the context of a likely combat situation where they could be extremely stressed, exhausted and under constant fire. If they are having to fix their bayonets it means they are in a pretty dire situation."

Soldiers say their training is preparing them for war

The soldiers - many still teenagers - are fully aware they are training for the very real possibility of being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Private Oliver Norton, 19, has just completed a three-day outdoor exercise, in bitterly cold conditions, with very little sleep.

Now half-way through his training, Pte Norton said he felt confident he would be ready for the battlefield by the time of his passing out parade.

"I am from a small town and there was nothing much for me there", he said.

"The Army seemed like a good career - it's a bit of an adventure.

"The training does prepare you - the station commanders make you feel as if you're actually doing it for real.

"I am a bit scared of going to Iraq or Afghanistan - I think everybody is, but that is just part of the Army."

The training they have here keeps them alive . . .I would happily bring them with me into war Lieutenant Robin Davies MoD denies training cuts

For Lieutenant Robin Davies, 27, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, the dangers of modern-day soldiering are very real, having recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq in which one of his men was killed.

Lance Corporal Ryan Francis, 23, died in a roadside bomb attack in Basra in July 2007.

Lt Davies, who was in charge of a company of 140 men in Iraq, said: "There are negatives of course to the Army - there are people being hurt and being killed.

"But there are also massive opportunities.

"My dad was in the air force, he trained quite a lot to go to war, and ended up in the Gulf.

"Like him, I wouldn't want to train so hard and then not go and do the job I was trained for. Ultimately if you join this profession then this is what you train to do."

He maintained the Army's training prepared infantry soldiers well for the front line.

"The training they have here keeps them alive", he said.

"When these guys leave, I would happily bring them with me into war. They are superb soldiers."