Nepal - Pokhara - British and Nepali Gurkha recruiters

British and Nepali-born army officers assess recruits during an army exercise trial known as the British Fitness Test (BFT) at the British Gurkha Regiment's camp at Pokhara, Nepal. The boys are among those trying for a highly-valued place in the regiment after a gruelling series of tests to eliminate the weaker and less able candidates. 60,000 boys aged between 17-22 (or 25 for those educated enough to become clerks or communications specialists) report to designated recruiting stations in the hills each November, most living from altitudes ranging from 4,000-12,000 feet. After initial selection, 7,000 are accepted for further tests from which 700 are sent down here to Pokhara in the shadow of the Himalayas. Only 160 of the best boys succeed in the journey to the UK. Nepal has been supplying youth for the British army since the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

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Filename: gurkha_recruitment07-16-01-1997.jpg
Copyright: © Richard Baker. No copying, screen grabbing, transmission or publication without permission.
Image Size: 5456x3533 / 3.1MB; www.bakerpictures.com; British Army Gurkha Himalayas MoD Nepal Nepali Pokhara adolescent altitude army boy career colonial competition departing duty education ethnic historic history homeland honour infantry military pride prospects recruit regiment reputation service talent trained young youth ultimate supply soldiers traditional training selection foothills joining practice trying effort honor commitment lifetime salary pension security Nepalese outdoor tough testosterone macho well-known notorious boys lads kids future landscape hardest toughest organised disciplined together equality shirts armed forces defense defence Regiment of Gurkhas Gurkhas Regiment officers British tests assessment deciding decision-makers uniform RGR

British and Nepali-born army officers assess recruits during an army exercise trial known as the British Fitness Test (BFT) at the British Gurkha Regiment's camp at Pokhara, Nepal. The boys are among those trying for a highly-valued place in the regiment after a gruelling series of tests to eliminate the weaker and less able candidates. 60,000 boys aged between 17-22 (or 25 for those educated enough to become clerks or communications specialists) report to designated recruiting stations in the hills each November, most living from altitudes ranging from 4,000-12,000 feet. After initial selection, 7,000 are accepted for further tests from which 700 are sent down here to Pokhara in the shadow of the Himalayas. Only 160 of the best boys succeed in the journey to the UK. Nepal has been supplying youth for the British army since the Indian Mutiny of 1857.