Becoming A Gurkha For The British Army

Becoming A Gurkha -- The Telegraph

Hundreds of young Nepalese are put through their paces as they bid to joining the prestigious Brigade of Gurkhas

These Nepalese men, aged between 17 and 21, are among the final 300 competing to join the Brigade of Gurkhas. At the end of the two-week selection process only the 126 candidates with the highest score overall will be selected.

Today’s recruits need to be fitter and have more formal qualifications than their predecessors a generation ago. Among the requirements are a Standard School Leaving Certificate and ability to run 800m in two minutes 45 seconds, do 12 pull-ups and 70 sit-ups.

Success will mean a Western salary and a pension for life, together with the right to settle in Britain. Failure will see them return to their villages with only their reimbursed bus fares in their pockets.

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My Comment: About seven years ago on a trip to India I had the good fortune of meeting 4 Gurkhas on their way home to visit their families in Nepal. Impressive does not even come close to defining them. On a side note .... I was not surprised when I learned years later that these same soldiers had this important job to do. More here .... Prince Harry made honorary Gurkha by fearsome warriors he served with in Afghanistan -- Daily Mail