Public Services Students Get Taste of Army Life

Uniformed Public Services students finished their academic year with a bang as they participated in a Residential Army Work Experience course at Altcar Training Camp in Southport.

Altcar Training Camp is a facility owned and run by the North West Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA) and is used extensively by regular, reserve and cadet units from all three service for military and civilian activities and training. The site has 620 acres of range and dry training areas, and 500 acres of beaches and sand dunes. Alongside 720 beds, are training facilities including clay pigeon lanes, football pitches, an obstacle course, and a new gym.

On the four-day experience our students had the opportunity to experience life in the army through a range of testing activities such as practising discipline and teamwork in a live setting, seeing military leadership styles in action, handling real kit, and testing their fitness and resilience under controlled pressure.

Steve Wilson, Lecturer in Public Services said “Work experience trips with the Army give Uniformed Public Services students a hands-on taste of the reality they’ll face if they want to join up. This turns classroom lessons on leadership, logistics, and fieldcraft into experiences they can recall and analyse later. Meeting serving soldiers also builds professional networks and role models, while the army’s emphasis on accountability and mission focus reinforces the attitudes recruiters look for across the police, fire, and security sectors.

“In short, a few days in the field condense months of theory into memorable, practical lessons that boost confidence, competence, and employability.”

There’s still time to apply for our Uniformed Public Services course to start this September!