The Army has admitted to a serious administrative error at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate that has left the future of 330 recruits in doubt.
The mistake, uncovered just three weeks into basic training, saw recruits placed on the wrong courses. Junior Soldiers at the college normally complete either six or twelve months of training depending on their academic ability. But due to the error, some will now face having their course length doubled, while others will complete far less training than expected.
A source at the college described the situation as a “massive mistake” and warned that the disruption could prompt some young soldiers to withdraw.
Reorganisation Announced
The Army confirmed that four companies, Alamein, Burma, Peninsula, and Waterloo, will undergo an internal “reorganisation” on 4 October. Cambrai Company will remain unaffected.
In a Facebook post, the college urged families to check their emails or company groups for updates. However, several parents expressed frustration, saying they had not received sufficient information about how the error would affect their children.
Parents of the 330 affected recruits have been invited to join a conference call with Commanding Officer Lt Col Jules Russell. Because the Junior Soldiers are under 18, families retain the right to withdraw them from training altogether.
Training Disrupted
The reorganisation has caused significant disruption to the recruits’ schedules. Moving soldiers into new sections and platoons just three weeks into training means established team bonds will be broken.
“The training calendar doesn’t allow for this kind of disruption,” one insider said. “The recruits are having to move during what should have been their rest weekend.”
Investigation Underway
It is believed the course allocation process is normally carried out before recruits arrive at Harrogate, raising questions over how the mistake occurred. The Army confirmed that an investigation is underway to establish responsibility.
In a statement, an Army spokesperson said:
“The Army has identified the errors made in assigning junior soldiers’ courses at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate, and is working rapidly to rectify the situation. Urgent steps have been taken to investigate the cause of the issue and ensure it does not happen again. The Army values the vital contribution junior soldiers at Harrogate bring to the service and apologises for any disruption caused to their training.”
Capita, the company used by the Ministry of Defence for recruitment, has been approached for comment.
