A total of 274 trainee Gurkhas recently passed out of the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, marking the occasion with a cap badging ceremony to receive their new unit insignias.
The proud personnel were also presented with their khardas, a traditional Nepelase scarf representing respect and goodwill (pictured left).
Around 20 of the recruits will be heading to the King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA), the first regiment to be named after King Charles III and the first Gurkha cap badge to be created in 14 years.
It features the Royal Artillery badge with crossed kukris superimposed over the top.
Over the next four years, 400 Gurkha soldiers will join the KGA and they are initially being trained on the Archer as well as the L118 Light Gun.
The unit will deliver close support artillery batteries and in the future is scheduled to operate the planned Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 artillery platform.
This is currently being jointly developed by the UK and Germany. The RCH 155 should reach initial operating capability in 2029, with full operating capability scheduled for 2032.
