University to host Armed Forces Day

Officers from the Royal Navy and Army will be at the event to launch the BSc (Hons) Armed Forces degree, which is understood to be the first course of its kind in the country.

The course combines academic study with practical experience and aims to equip students for a challenging career in the Armed Forces.

Students are required, as part of the degree, to become members of the Royal Naval Reserve or Royal Marine Reserve based at HMS Forward, Birmingham, the Territorial Army or RAF Reserve.

The all-day invitation only event will be held on Tuesday, 11 January 2011 and will be attended by over 300 college students on relevant public services vocational courses from the Black Country, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

The event will include a talk being given by the national Royal Navy presentation team as well as a presentation about the degree and talks on careers in the Armed Forces. There will also be demonstrations and specialist discussions by military personnel. Highlights are set to include a display of military vehicles and staff will showcase real equipment used by the Royal Navy and Army, such as a mine detector kit, weaponry and missiles.

The Army will also be bringing along regimental mascots with the whole event being held at the University’s City Campus.

The event will include the signing of a Public Services Progression Agreement to support the progression of college students studying vocational courses to higher education. The University will sign the new agreement which focuses on Public Services courses with City of Wolverhampton College, Halesowen College, Sandwell College, South Birmingham College, Telford College of Arts and Technology and Walsall College.

Dr Martin Wright, Director of the Central Institute for the Study of Public Protection and course leader for the BSc (Hons) Armed Forces degree, said: “The degree builds upon the very successful programmes the University of Wolverhampton provides in Policing and Fire and Rescue. Taken together these programmes offer real opportunities for students who wish to pursue careers in the uniformed public services.”

Major Richard Courteney-Harris, Deputy Commander Regional Recruiting with the Army in the West Midlands, said: "This region has tremendous links with the Armed Forces - it provides around 12% of the recruits to the Army each year meaning there is a great deal of understanding and interest in the work and opportunities of the Forces. It is also home to five important Army bases as well as very many more Territorial Army units. As such, we are delighted to be associated with this pioneering Armed Forces degree and hopefully enable students to have the opportunity to see this work at first hand."

There are three courses available – BSc (Hons) Armed Forces, BSc (Hons) Armed Forces and Combat Medicine degree and the BSc (Hons) Armed Forces and Combat Engineering degree. The vocational degrees offer a well-balanced and relevant professional programme of study for students intending to seek a career in HM Armed Forces; Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

During three years of study at the University, students will serve as a member of the Royal Naval Reserve or Royal Marine Reserve, Territorial Army or RAF Reserve.

The programmes will include a 'guest lecture' series during which students will be expected to engage in discussion and debate with members of HM Forces and academics working in the field of military history.

The courses will be available in September 2011.

ENDS

For information about the course go to http://courses.wlv.ac.uk/course.asp?code=LW031H01UVU

For media inquiries please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736.