As we moved into a cold and frosty 2023, CC 231 formed up with 168 Officer Cadets (145 male and 25 female). This is a two Company intake, the first smaller January intake for some time and reflects the requirements following the reduction in the size of the Army.

The youngest UK Cadet is 18 and the oldest 31 with an average age of 23. Sixty five percent of the intake was educated in the State sector and 74% are university graduates. Eighteen percent of the UK Cadets have served in the Reserve Forces and 22% in a university UOTC, finally 23% were in one of the Cadet movements. Of particular interest is the exceptionally high percentage (14%) of soldier entrants meaning each platoon will have at least two Cadets who have served in the ranks.

The 29 international Cadets are from 20 countries and include cadets from Fiji, Hungary, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan (the 6th), Malta, Paraguay, Rwanda (8th) and Slovenia (2nd). We also welcome the first ever Cadet from Cambodia.

As part of their induction the Cadets swore allegiance to The King (only the second course in 70 years to do so), in a simple ceremony taken by the Adjutant of Old College. 

In week two of the course the Cadets received their initial brief on The Sandhurst Trust followed by a history tour of the site. This included welcome packs for every cadet and staff in the Junior division.

We wish CC231 all the best for their 44 weeks at Sandhurst.