Gurkha Recruit Intake 20 have completed their basic training at Gurkha Company Catterick, Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
They arrived in February 2020 as fresh young men from Nepal and are now trained soldiers and ready to join their units for their trade training so they can take up their rightful positions in the Brigade of Gurkhas.
The Inspecting Officer was The Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Honourable Ben Wallace MP. Also in attendance was Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw OBE MSc BEng MInstRE, (Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas), Major General Chris Bell CBE (General Officer Commanding Army Recruitment and Initial Training Command – ARITC), Brigadier Mark Lancaster TD, VR, PC (Deputy Commandant, Brigade of Gurkhas), Colonel J Davis MBE (Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas), Colonel Andy Hadfield (Commandant the School of Infantry) and Colonel Andrew Griffiths OBE (Colonel of the Regiment, Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support).
The Secretary of State for Defence inspected the parade and presented several prizes and awards to those on parade. He then said a few words to the parade about what an honour it was for him to attend this impressive event in difficult times, stating how impressing it was that despite COVID-19 they managed to complete their training.
He then went on to talk about the important part the Brigade of Gurkhas has to play in the tasks and roles called upon the British Army now and in the future as the Army evolves.
Honours and awards presented on the parade:
Award winners for Recruit Intake 20:
