On Wednesday 12 February 2025, as part of National Apprenticeship Week, Headquarters North and 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery (101RA) held an Apprentice Military Challenge event at their local Army Reserves Centre, at Napier Armoury in Gateshead. The event was supported by the North East Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network (NEANN) who distributed the invite list to their active members and generously provided the refreshments.
A total of 35 Apprentices, along with eight visitors from their management teams, across ten local businesses attended the event, where they got ‘green & dirty’ in the challenges, whilst learning about the Army Reserves and 101RA. The event was designed to inspire, test, and challenge; all whilst building confidence, working as a team and having fun. The Challenge activities involved a shooting competition on the indoor ranges, military communications and use of the VHF manpack radio (UK PRC 355), a planning exercise to test their strategic skills, a command task, and fieldcraft in the form of cam and concealment. Getting into the spirit of the day involved green coverall’s and CAM cream!!
The event had five main aims;
- Provide a NE Military led event during National Apprenticeship Week 2025
- Engage to Recruit event for 101RA: Work with the NEAAN to promote the Army Reserves and the event to businesses within the Reserve centres’ local area
- Engagement with additional employers: Utilise the NEAAN contacts outside of the normal scope of businesses and inform them of the Employment Recognition Scheme and the possible benefits to their employees and the organisation.
- Connect the Army with society and raise awareness of role of the Armed Forces. Educate and inform young people about UK Defence, the Army and the Army Reserves – and the opportunities available to them.
- Give a valuable insight into the transferable skills that the Armed Forces develop during similar training activities.
The Apprentice Military Challenge has only been a success due to the hard work and efforts put in by all the Army Reserve personnel from 101RA based out of Napier Armoury in Gateshead. A special thanks goes to Capt Stevie Savage, the Regimental Operations Support Officer for 101RA, who has been pivotal in the organisation and running of the event. 101RA are the only Army Reserve unit to hold, maintain and train on the armoured tracked M270, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The MLRS is the British Army’s main ‘precision fire’ weapon system, able to engage targets at long ranges with extreme accuracy.
Abby Blagdon, Purchasing Apprentice said: “Working with the Army was a lot different than I expected it to be. All of the activities were quite challenging but fun and it was definitely good to have a change from what I do day to day. Overall, I had a great experience and learned a lot of new things and I am extremely happy that we won!”
