I am often struck by just how much power our army packs despite its relatively modest size.

Whether it is on ops abroad like Cabrit in Eastern Europe, or during national emergencies such as the Covid pandemic, troops deliver time after time.

The quality of training, skill and professionalism underpin our high standards, meaning the service consistently punches above its weight.

Take soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who recently won the Pacific Land Forces Team Readiness Challenge in Hawaii.

These troops came top of the pile among teams from nations with much larger armies, including their US hosts. I raise this because it pays from time to time to reflect on what we do well.

This month, I’d like us to focus on growing our impressive pool of talent, thinking about how we can all help with recruitment.

It has been said before that we all have a role in promoting the Army, but I’d like us to try to bring some old friends back into the fold.

If we can encourage leavers to consider rejoining, then it will bolster our strength in depth. I’m thinking particularly of our longer serving Non-Commissioned Officers who have been around a bit and might know people on civvy street who’d potentially come back.

But our more recent recruits can play a part too, by telling others what army life is like and the opportunities even early on.

Finally, I’ve been really impressed with how people are personally rising to the challenge of increasing our fighting power.

There is a great level of innovation happening in units – for example, soldiers using their skills to develop capabilities to disrupt enemy UAS.

It has also been great to see people pondering the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker’s recent hypothetical question about the changes we would make if we knew we were going to war in the near future.

Keep up the good work.