[M]ore Army Reserve trades are now based at Carlisle Castle than any other Army Reserve Centre in the North West of England.
So on Saturday (May 6th) the city centre barracks within the castle will hold an open day to show the public the range of roles now available to those soldiers based there.
Till recently Reservists joining at Carlisle would have been trained as Infantry soldiers of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, but a whole host of other Army ‘cap badges’ now recruit there.
Artillery, military engineers, logistics specialists, medical personnel as well as Infantry soldiers can train from Carlisle Castle.
The aim is to encourage potential soldiers interested in the wider range of roles it takes to make the British Army work.
Elsewhere in the North West Army Reserve Centres normally host just one regiment. Major John Thompson, Officer Commanding the Carlisle Detachment of 64 Medical Squadron, explained: “In Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, because of those counties’ really strong transport links, Reservists needn’t be limited to joining their nearest unit; there’s a good chance there are others nearby which offer careers they may be more interested in.
“Travel times in Cumbria are more challenging, but we’ve now removed that disadvantage for those who live within commuting distance of Carlisle because of the range of career options now on offer here. It’s a really exciting development and we hope potential Reservists will come and see what kind of soldier they want to be.”
Personnel from each Army unit will be at Carlisle Castle between 9.00am and 5.30pm on Saturday, May 6th, to advise on the jobs available to Reservists. They’ll be showing off some of the equipment they use including a military tractor, an assault boat, a battlefield ambulance, an artillery gun and a heavy goods support vehicle.
