Army Officer Selection Board success will see former Cambridge Regional College student, George, start his training at Sandhurst in 2021

Former @CRC_College Uniformed Public Services student, George Hounsell, to begin training at Sandhurst in 2021 after passing the Army Officer Selection Board.

Growing up with a life-long dream of joining the uniformed services meant that the only decision George needed to make upon completion of his secondary education at Comberton Village College, was the best post-16 route to take to achieve his goal. With a desire to develop himself as a whole person, challenging both his physical and academic progress, George was keen to explore both sixth form and vocational studies at Cambridge Regional College.

The reputation that CRC delivered a high-class Uniformed Public Services course led George to attend the open day and taster week and this insight proved to be the deciding factor in him enrolling onto the Level 3 UPS course. George said, “I knew that this was the place to be, with dedicated staff who possessed a wealth of knowledge and life experience. Putting it simply, I felt like CRC would best prepare me to join, and have a successful career in, the uniformed services.”

George spent the following two years studying for his Level 3 award, winning the UPS annual competition in his first year, a title he retained in his second year after being voted in by his tutor group, and it was this experience, coupled with the course content and advice of his tutors that opened his eyes to the possibility of a career as an Officer in the British Army.

As George progressed through his post-16 learning, he started the process of applying to join the army, with the intention of completing his formal education at 18yrs, however the advice to consider his options post-military led George to realise that achieving a higher education would provide greater security in the long term. Consequently, George continued his UPS studies at CRC completing the Level 4 and Level 5 awards before progressing onto a top-up degree course at Anglia Ruskin University. Studying at a higher level, enabled George to join the University Officer’s Training Corps, an opportunity that saw him meet and work with UPS students from across the region, further developing his learning.

In 2020, George graduated with a BA (Hons) in Public Services and applied to stand before the Army Officers Selection Board and soon after received the very welcome news that he had passed selection. George will begin his training at Sandhurst in January 2021, seeing the start of a career he has been working towards for many years.

George added, “The additional opportunities and higher education learning environment enhanced my knowledge and skills. I do not believe that I would be in the position I am today if it were not for the course content and support provided at CRC. My tutors have been of particular importance, offering guidance and support throughout and I have become an all-round better person by securing a degree, something that has ultimately contributed to me passing the Army Officer selection board to achieve my dream.”

“My advice to anyone considering Cambridge Regional College as a choice for further education is go for it. The staff and course content, mixed with the social experiences, will stay with me forever. You will have to work hard but you will enjoy every minute of it.”