I got the chance to visit one of Scotland’s Army bases – Glencorse Barracks in Penicuik.
This is part of a series of visits by MSPs to defence establishments in Scotland and it was my first to an Army base.
Glencorse dates from the 19th century, when it was a prison. It is a far more uplifting place now.
I’ll concentrate on the Army for this piece as I will see the other services another time.
Scotland has just over 4000 Army personnel based here, with its headquarters in Stirling
There are six major units:
3 RIFLES at Dreghorn, Edinburgh
2 SCOTS at Glencorse, who I met today
3 SCOTS (the Black Watch) at Fort George, Inverness
39 Engineer Regiment at Kinloss
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at Leuchars and
The Royal and Mechanical Engineers at LeucharsGlencorse is one of seven Army sites in Scotland due to close but that’s a while off, in 2032.
As well as being home to 2SCOTs, Glencorse is the Army’s recruit assessment centre for Scotland and the north of England.
Thousands of squaddies go through its doors every year.
They get a full medical and some go home after that, a rigorous fitness test, team exercise and interviews.
We MSPs did not get off lightly as the males among us tried our hand at lifting steadily-heavier weights onto a shelf the height of an Army truck.
Labour’s Daniel Johnson hardly broke sweat, while Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh did the lot, followed by my colleague and ex-Army man Maurice Corry. They are all taller than me and the pressure was on but I rolled back the years and got through them all – right the way to 40kg.
We chatted to lads going through the assessment, as well as fully trained soldiers. I even managed to look silly dressing up in new Army kit and trying out a rifle (not loaded).
It was also interesting to talk to a couple of Army wives, who have a great deal of camaraderie. It’s tough for them when their hubbies are away for long spells.
One thing I picked up is that Army homes are not owned by the MoD any more and repairs don’t get done quickly enough!
2SCOTS were called on recently to provide cover at nuclear sites after the Manchester atrocity.
They have served in Nepal, Afghanistan, Kenya, Sudan and Iraq.
It was great to chat to the lads. They are a credit to our nation. Those of us in civilian life should be eternally grateful for all that they do and I appreciate them even more for having met them today. Thanks and I look forward to next trip.