PEMBROKE Dock Rifleman Jacob Osborne has won two Army awards after completing his recruit training.

Rifleman Osborne, 26, has successfully completed the Combat Infantryman’s Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

His platoon commander, Captain Ian Cullen, said: “Rifleman Osborne has been awarded the Best Recruit and Soldiers’ Soldier prizes. It is rare for one recruit to win both these awards. The training team chose him as the best recruits for his consistently high standards during what is a gruelling six months’ course. His fellow recruits voted him their soldiers’ soldier because of his selfless commitment to others. He can be justifiably proud of his achievements.”

Rifleman Osborne said: “Before joining the army I worked in the Pembroke oil refineries for about six years. It wasn’t really a career, I was a contract worker. When the employment situation got a bit difficult I decided it was time to leave. As well as being a full-time job, the army is something you can do and be proud of it. I was looking for some direction in my life and for goals to achieve, I certainly got that at Catterick. Every week there are goals to achieve which can make it tough, I did a winter course and we had two feet of snow during our final exercise in Otterburn, but it’s enjoyable achieving them. The trick is to give a hundred per cent. I feel privileged to have won these awards, but our training staff were role models from day one and I’ve learned a lot from them. My family are really looking forward to seeing me collect the awards at the parade on Friday. ”

Rifleman Osborne will take some well-earned leave before joining his new unit the 4th Battalion The Rifles based in Aldershot.