CONFIDENTIAL
3RD DRAFT
Training of Junior Soldiers
8. In the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1969 (Cmnd. 3927), it
was announced that the Army was examining the arrangements for train-
ing the Junior entry. The results of this study were announced
in November 1973 and the following measures have been implemented:
the training of Junior Tradesmen has been transferred
9.
a.
b.
to the Junior training units of individual Arms and
Corps and the Junior Tradesmen's Regiments at Rhyl
and Troon closed;
the training of Junior Infantrymen is now carried out
at divisional Depots and all Infantry Junior Leaders
are now trained centrally at the Infantry Junior
Leaders Battalion at Shorncliffe.
As explained in Chapter V (paragraph 14), the recruitment of
Juniors, following the raising of the school leaving age, has
considerably exceeded expectations, and other changes announced in
November 1973, which would have reduced the capacity of the Junior
Training organisation, will not now take place. Consequently, for
the time being, the Junior Leaders Regiment of the Royal Engineers
and the Royal Corps of Transport will remain at Dover and Taunton
respectively. It has also been necessary to transfer the training
of Junior soldier recruits of the Royal Signals to Catterick from
the Army Apprentices College at Harrogate. The camp at Oswestry
will be retained for at least a further six months (from the
previously announced closure date of 1 April 1975) as a Junior
Infantry wing to cater for those Junior Infantrymen who cannot be
trained at divisional depots because of a shortage of living
accommodation.
VI-3
CONFIDENTIAL