A 17-YEAR-OLD junior soldier from Redditch has taken the next step towards his career in the army after graduating in a prestigious military passing out parade.

Charlie Ralph joined hundreds of youngsters on Thursday, August 17, to mark the completion of their British Army Junior Entry training at Uniacke Barracks.

Ralph, who has been paid to train, will now go on to serve with the Royal Armoured Corps after his graduation at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

He said: “Graduating from AFC Harrogate in front of my friends and family is something that I am very proud of doing.

“As a Junior Soldier you learn core life skills such as leadership, teamwork and determination.

“I have made loads of friends and met new people, and have become much more confident in my own ability.

“I’ve been paid really well for someone of my age and I’ve got some really useful qualifications. I’m now really looking forward to the next stage of my Army career.”

Ralph, who studied at St Augustine’s Catholic High School, will join his fellow graduates for a seven-day Battle Camp at various areas across the UK for his final training exercise.

Junior Entry soldiers go on to become engineers, IT specialists, infantry soldiers, as well as more technical specialists.

Lieutenant Colonel W J Strickland, Commanding Officer AFC Harrogate, said: “All the Junior Soldiers passing out today should be proud of all that they have achieved during their time at AFC Harrogate.

“The training these Junior Soldiers go through is tough, but undeniably leads to excellent opportunities for personal and career development and allows people’s talents and skills to shine through.”