The Army swept into Inverness at the weekend with a campaign to prove it is still looking for new recruits.
The Royal Regiment of Scotland was on hand along with an impressive display of armoury in the city’s Falcon Square.
This was part of a continuing recruitment campaign – “A better you” – proving that its mission to sign up 17 to 26-year-olds remains active despite UK defence cuts.
Soldiers spent the day offering an insight into the various roles of Scotland’s infantry and the equipment they use in the theatre of conflict.
This came complete with a Foxhound armoured vehicle that the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) are currently training with at Fort George.
The regiment is seeking both male and female recruits.
Major Maurice Gibson, area secretary north for the Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “The Army is still recruiting in spite of the fact that we’ve been ordered to scale down from 102,000 to 82,000 over the next three or four years.
“Obviously, there’s an outflow of people and this is an opportunity for 4 Scots, particularly in the Highlands which is historically our recruiting area.
“Recruitment is currently very tough. Having been a tribal division, when we became the Royal Regiment of Scotland, we lost some of that tribalism and became one big regiment. People need to understand we’re very much there.
“We still harp back to our history of the Seaforths, the Camerons and the Gordons and the Lovat Scouts.”
The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry regiment, forming a core part of the British Army’s combat capability.
It comprises six battalions and an independent company of combat infantry soldiers.
Major Gibson added: “It’s not just a question of recruiting for the regular Army, it’s also recruiting for the Reserve Army, what used to be called Territorial Army.
“A massive amount of work has been done in the Highlands to promote the opportunities available to people aged 17 to 39.
“This is something they can do, earn money from, get good qualifications and skills which can all go back into the civilian world and help their companies and businesses.”