Ballymena TA recruits will be faced with the 'Shamrock Challenge' test

RISE early for a day packed with pulse-pounding physical challenges, a ration pack 'lunch' followed by an afternoon hike, PT and weapons training followed by an evening packed with mentally draining classroom lectures.

It doesn’t sound like the most relaxing way to spend a Summer, but it’s a prospect that is expected to have people from Ballymena queueing up - and in an orderly fashion, of course!

Exercise Shamrock Challenge, the Territorial Army’s fast track training and entry scheme, has proved so popular that, for the first time, places themselves are to be rationed.

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The annual scheme gives would-be Territorials the opportunity to tackle the traditionally grueling TA induction training within just one very un-traditional month.

Instead of training in bite sized chunks on evenings and weekends at their local TA Centre Shamrock Challenge recruits pack it all into a few short weeks.

Regimental Sergeant Major Jimmy Johnston is involved in training for both the Regular and Territorial Army.

He says: “People will still be welcomed into the Ballymena units to see for themselves what TA life is all about and we will continue, both in Ballymena and elsewhere, to offer the conventional entry and training style.

fast track

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“For many, however, the opportunity to fast-track is the new, favoured introduction into military life – so much so that places for the 2010 courses are being strictly limited.

“Our approach for 2010 is also slightly different in that we won’t necessarily assume that anyone recruited in Ballymena will automatically want to serve right here in their home town, although right on their own doorstep they have the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment and 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers).

“Ballymena has always proved a strong recruiting ground for the Territorial Army and we look forward to seeing that reflected in strong local interest for this latest round of recruitment.”

Applications are invited now for an Infantry course which will run at Ballykinler Training Camp in County Down from July 25 to August 28 and for an ‘other arms’ course which will run from August 6 to September 4, split between Ballykinler and a training camp at Pirbright outside London.

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