On Friday 10 February, the UK Government Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families attended the Gurkha Attestation Parade in Nepal. 204 new Gurkha Soldiers swore allegiance to His Majesty Charles III.
Families and friends of the 204 recruits gathered to watch the ceremonial event at the home of British Gurkhas recruitment in Pokhara. Defence minister Dr Andrew Murrison, Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw, the Colonel Commandant of the Brigade of Gurkhas and other senior dignitaries were in attendance to take the attestation of the new recruits.
Recruit Intake 23 for the Brigade of Gurkhas was completed on Saturday the 4th of February 2023 at British Gurkhas Pokhara, Nepal. This is an intense time for lucky few that had made it through regional selection events on route to Phase Three (Final Selection). Nearly 20,000 applied for only 204 vacancies in 2023.
The Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP (Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families), His Majesty’s Ambassador Nicola Pollitt, Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw OBE (Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas), Brigadier Rt Hon the Lord Lancaster TD VR PC (Deputy Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas), Colonel Paul Smith (Commander British Gurkhas Nepal), and Colonel David Robinson (Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas) were all present to take the Attestation of the new recruits.
During the parade the new Gurkha recruits swore allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III. The parade was attended by the proud families of the new recruits, travelling from across Nepal to see their sons start their journey in the British Army.
Recruit Intake 23 for the Brigade of Gurkhas was completed on the 4th of February 2023. Potential recruits (PRs) were called forward to Phase Three (Final Selection) and had to meet the minimum standards as a starting point and compete against each other on various fitness tests, educational tests, medicals, paperwork checks and interviews to show the recruitment staff they were the best PRs and deserved the chance to become a Gurkha Soldier in the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Medicals are carried out for each PR as per any British Army applicant, various tests are run to make sure there are not any hidden conditions or concerns over an individual’s health so the British Army can be assured the person is medically fit for military service.
In line with the British Army’s Physical Entry Standards (PES), the following physical assessments are tested at Phase Three – Final Selection:
2km Run: Under 8 minutes (best effort)
Jerry Can Carry: Under 2 minutes (best effort)
Doko: Under 46 minutes (best effort)
Mid-Thigh Pull: 76 Kilograms
Medicine Ball Throw: 3.1 meters
The famous Doko that PRs have to complete is a tough and gruelling individual effort run up steep inclines and steps in the hills close to the British Army camp in Pokhara. The potential recruits have to carry 15kg in a Doko basket and run a distance of 5.8km in less than 46 minutes.
There are two English tests in Phase Three – Final Selection. A 10-minute speaking and listening exam and a 30-minute writing exam. The tests are run by professional education officers. The written examination assesses the content, spelling, punctuation and grammar. During the speaking and listening assessment PRs are tested on answer structure, grammar, vocabulary, clarity of speech, flow and response, as well as understanding. During the interview stage, PRs are assessed for having excellent values and standards, robust and, most importantly, must want to be a Gurkha Soldier.