A teenager from Basingstoke has taken the Queen’s Shilling and pledged her allegiance to her country after joining the armed forces.
Molly Rivers, 17, from Winklebury, enlisted in the army at a prestigious ceremony in Portsmouth on August 17, where she swore her oath of allegiance. Molly, who attended Fort Hill Community School, said: “I was so excited to be at this big event. I’ve always supported the armed forces and it felt really good to pledge my oath. The event marked the start of something new for me, I felt really happy.”
Molly was joined by 16 other young men and women at the Lord Mayor’s Rooms, at Portsmouth City Council, for the traditional ceremony in front of family, friends and senior officials. Molly said: “My family and friends have been really supportive of me and are proud of my decision to sign up. I'm really excited about my forthcoming career in the army - I have always wanted to do this for as long as I can remember, it's my dream job."
The new recruits will now undertake a 14-week training course, where they will have military, leadership and vocational training, to give them the soldiering skills they need before moving into their selected regiments.
Molly, who will go in to the Royal Logistics Corp as an air dispatcher, said: “I need adrenaline and an active lifestyle, which is part of why I signed up, so I’m looking forward to the training. I’m not worried about the physical strain or the dangerous aspects of the Army, it’s what you expect when you join. I hope it will build me as a person.”
Lieutenant Colonel Darren Doherty, regional recruitment commander for the South East, said: “I am very proud to see these young people take their oaths of allegiance and to meet the families and friends who are sharing this special occasion.
“It marks the beginning of what I know will be an exciting and rewarding army career for them. Along with training for and deploying on operations there will be plenty of opportunities for personal development and education, sport, travel and for those with the right qualities, promotion. I sincerely wish them well in their chosen field and all their future endeavours.”
