After 39 weeks of intense military, education and cultural awareness training, 274 newly trained Gurkhas were on parade in Catterick for their pass out parade on 12 November 2024. A 100% pass success rate from those selected in Nepal in January this year.
Parading before senior guests, friends and family members, those on parade delivered an excellent parade, with the Trainees almost stretching across the whole of the very large parade square in Catterick.
This high pass rate cannot be matched by any other Army Phase one training coure, and is a testamant to trainees determination, fitness and ability, plus the excellent training staff draw from across the Brigade of Gurkhas.
The inspecting officer was Major General G M Strickland DSO MBE (Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas). The parade commander was Major Gyanbahadur Dhenga (The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR)), Second in Command was Captain Surendra Tamang (2 RGR) and the Company Sergeant Major was Warrant Officer Class Two Roshan Gurung (1 RGR).
In his address, Major General Strickland congratulated the newly trained Gurkhas and who reminded the recruits of the significance of their achievement. He said: “Whatever you do, do it with pride because you are now a Gurkha. Well done.”
The parade was supported by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Prize Winners
Overall Champion Recruit – Trainee Rifleman (T/Rfn) Prince Sherpa – (4 Iraq) Platoon
Unit Champion Recruits
- 1 RGR – T/Rfn Prince Sherpa – (4 Iraq) Platoon
- 2 RGR – T/Rfn Yugai Rai– 1 (Tigris) Platoon
- The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers – T/Rfn Subin Sunuwar – 4 (Iraq) Platoon
- Queen’s Gurkha Signals – T/Rfn Bhupal Limbu– 4 (Iraq) Platoon
- Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment – T/Rfn Prajwol Tamang – 2 (Kandahar) Platoon
- The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas – T/Rfn Prashant Tamang – 2 (Kandahar) Platoon
- Gurkha Staff and Personnel Support – T/Rfn Riwaz Pradhan – 5 (Helles) Platoon
- The King’s Gurkha Artillery – T/Rfn Lila Gurung 5 (Helles) Platoon
- Fittest Trainee – T/Rfn Manish Tamang – 4 (Iraq) Platoon – 1 (Tigris) Platoon
- Most Improved in English Language – T/Rfn Uttam Rai – 4 (Iraq) Platoon
- Best Platoon Commander – Captain Chakra Rai – 5 (Helles) Platoon
- Role Model Trophy – Corporal Hem Bahadur Gurung – 5 (Helles) Platoon – 2 (Kandahar) Platoon
- Champion Platoon – 4 (Iraq) Platoon – Commanded by Captain Dipesh Rai, 2 RGR
- Champion Section – 4 (Iraq) Platoon 3 Section – Commanded by Corporal Bijay Thapa, 2 RGR
Overall Champion Recruit - Trainee (T/Rfn) Prince Sherpa – (4 Iraq) Platoon
Best Platoon Commander – Captain Chakra Rai – 5 (Helles) Platoon
Role Model Trophy – Corporal Hem Bahadur Gurung – 5 (Helles) Platoon – 2 (Kandahar) Platoon
Champion Platoon – 4 (Iraq) Platoon – Commanded by Captain Dipesh Rai, 2 RGR
Champion Section – 4 (Iraq) Platoon 3 Section – Commanded by Corporal Bijay Thapa, 2 RGR
