A WORCESTER man joined more than 200 officer cadets in a prestigious graduation ceremony on Friday.

Second Lieutenant Ruari Smith-Cooper, aged 23, can now embark on his career in the British Army after graduating from the Army’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Passing out from Sandhurst marks the completion of 44 weeks of intensive military and academic training, combined with adventurous training and sporting challenges.

It prepares Officer Cadets for the challenges of leading soldiers within the Army, where they will be responsible for leading a Platoon of 30 soldiers.

Second Lieutenant Smith-Cooper, who will be joining the Royal Engineers, said: “Graduating from Sandhurst as an officer in the British Army makes me extremely proud. It’s one of the biggest challenges I have ever undertaken, but also one of the most rewarding. The training and support I have received has been excellent and I cannot wait to start putting it into practice with the Royal Engineers and to be given the chance to make my contribution on both operations and humanitarian projects overseas. I would recommend this pathway to anyone looking for an exciting career away from the mundane nine to five.”