Not barmy on the Territorial Army

As the Territorial Army launches a fast track training course for recruits, Jo Manning samples a slice of soldiering life.

Carrying the jerry cans was exhausting - they're heavier than they look for BBC reporters Nelli Bird [L] and Jo Manning

As I clung to Big Brother's Glyn Wise with muddy hands and a runny nose as we balanced precariously on an upturned barrel, I began to wonder why I had agreed to sample a slice of Territorial Army (TA) training.

Myself and Glyn were in the middle of the "island hopper" challenge in which seven of us media types had to get ourselves across a "deadly river" (actually a stretch of concrete) utilising only three muddy planks of wood and five wobbly barrels.

He may appear to have a slight frame but Glyn was a steadying rock for me on the barrel, or tropical island as our imaginative instructor described it.

But we and a third brave soul came a cropper while we desperately tried to bridge a gap at the end of the challenge that was wider than our piece of wood was long.

While four others from our courageous team learnt from our fatal mistake and got across safely, our damaged egos were greeted with the information that a group of 14-year-olds had completed the crossing with little trouble.

Our instructor's verdict was damning - our communication was appalling, our teamwork was shoddy and none of us had any leadership skills.

All of this confirmed what I already knew - I simply wouldn't be cut out for life as a TA recruit.

If the TA weren't there it would be a great loss for us Lance Corporal Daffron Williams, regular army

While I'm more than partial to the odd bit of adventure, am not averse to getting a bit mucky and would enjoy tucking into a soldier's 4,200 calorie 24-hour ration pack without guilt, I'm not quite so keen on the prospect of death or injury, which is the reality sometimes facing TA recruits who can volunteer for regular army operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Volunteer is the key word - members of the TA are not, like their regular counterparts, required to go on tours of duty in some of the most dangerous places in the world.

It is also the part-time element of the regular army, allowing soldiers to have civilian jobs which their TA requirements fit in and around.

Training for recruits usually takes around 18 months but the TA has just launched its fastest ever recruitment programme - Summer Challenge Wales which will begin in July at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff.

This condensed programme allows recruits to train in a maximum of seven weeks and the TA is aiming to transform 150 men and women in Wales into trained TA soldiers using this programme.

Major David Maxwell from the TA said recruits would experience all the training a regular recruit would, including weapons training.

Traversing the perilous gaps in our island hopper challenge

"It's not for the faint hearted but if you are looking for a new part time job that is local to you, extra money or simply an exhilarating new hobby... the TA has something for everyone," he said.

Our mucky island hopping challenge will be just one of the elements in the recruits' training.

If you do decide to put your name down, you can also look forward to a variety of selection tests which must be passed. Most of these were also failed miserably by myself.

These tests of strength and endurance include pull ups, a horrific jerry can carrying experience and strength tests for your back.

The tests measure your aerobic power as well as your ability to carry a heavy back pack or lug items onto the back of army vehicles - all of which are required for military tasks.

Of course if you, like me, fail any of the tests, the friendly fitness instructors are on hand to advise you on training programmes to get you up to speed.

Once you're in the TA you'll get nice little slices of extra cash including annual tax free bounties and the chance to take part in sporting and adventure training throughout the year including rock climbing, gliding, canoeing , sub aqua diving and even skiing.

But you must be able to commit a minimum of 27 days a year to the TA and be aged between 17 and 43.

Lance Corporals Daffron Williams and Gareth Davies from the regular army say they appreciate the help of the TA

One TA recruit who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq is Lance Bombadier Hugh Meah from Cardiff who said he wanted to do something different from civilian life.

The 23-year-old, whose day job is being a lifeguard, filled in for a regular army soldier and seemed to take the pressure and fear of being in some of the most dangerous places in the world in his stride.

"It is just your job and you don't really think about that when you're doing your job," he said.

"It has been a good experience altogether."

Undoubtedly fellow soldiers in the regular army value their part time counterparts. Lance Corporal Daffron Williams from Rhondda said: "If the TA weren't there it would be a great loss for us.

"We get a lot of good people coming across. They make up the numbers when we need them."

While I'm normally willing to "have a go" I draw the line at frontline operations.

And I'm sure the TA would prefer a recruit with slightly more balance, better problem solving abilities and less of a beer belly. I'll leave them to it!