A Kelso teacher has defied the march of time to successfully complete a four-week army basic training course at the age of 41 .
Private Jarrod Finn can now realise his ambition to join the Army Reserve’s 243 Provost Company, 5th Regiment Royal Military Police, in Livingston.
The proud father of two, who works at Kelso High School, was the oldest recruit on the course, but did not let the physical side of the training defeat him.
“The course pushes you to your limits of physical and mental ability, but the training enabled me to find the inner strength I needed to pass,” he said.
Australian-born Jarrod moved to the UK some 13 years ago, finally settling with his family in the Borders, back in 2007.
With a degree in psychology, and having managed casinos in Alice Springs, Jarrod had been selected to join the Australian Air Force as an officer, but then never pursued it as a career.
However, he now intends to fulfil a dream by becoming an Army Reserve Military Policeman. Keeping fit by playing Australian football and basketball, Jarrod climbed Ben Nevis for Macmillan Cancer Support and likes spending time with his family.
Jarrod said: “Exercise Summer Challenge enabled me to complete basic training in one go while I was on summer holidays. It’s an intense course where recruits learn both mental and practical military skills, including fitness, handling and firing the SA80 rifle, first aid, navigation, marching and living out in field conditions.”