News & Events

News & Events / Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt advocates MPC at RUSI Land Warfare Conference

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt advocates MPC at RUSI Land Warfare Conference

On Tuesday 4th May 2019, The Royal United Services Institute held it’s first day of The Land Warfare Conference which is held annually on behalf of the Chief of the General Staff and is the “UK’s pre-eminent gathering of the land forces community”.

The keynote speaker for Day 1 of the sold out conference was The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP: Secretary of State for Defence, who spoke about the rising figures of knife crime and suggested that the army can help tackle the problem. In particular, it was said that there could be a proposed summit which;

would connect Military Preparation colleges – places of education that offer 16 to 23 year olds the chance to learn new skills and improve their fitness – with groups working to divert young people away from gangs and violence.

The Defence Secretary went on further to say;

“Defence has so much to offer, in our armed forces and our cadet units, but also in the fantastic organisations that sit in our communities alongside us,” she said.

“I have been so struck in particular how Military Preparation colleges have enthused those who other education establishments fail to inspire.

“They have encouraged study and physical fitness, self-confidence and self-worth, a sense of duty and service.

“And they have given some youngsters options where they had none.

 

MPCT are honoured to have been supported at such a prestigious event, and especially honoured to be considered in helping tackle the hugely important issue of knife crime here in the UK.

We thank Penny Mourdant for her continued support over the years, she can be seen pictured in a previous awards ceremony at our Military Preparation College in Portsmouth back in 2015 by clicking HERE where she awarded our Learners.

For the full story on the conference from Sky News and original source of quotes and featured image, please click HERE

 

CEO of British Army Recruiting Group, Cath Possamai also showed her continued support of MPCT by taking to Twitter to say how pleased she was that we were being advocated at the conference, pictured below.

 

 

Back to news articles

What to Expect on GCSE Results Day – And Why MPCT Could Be Your Next Step

GCSE results day 2026 falls on Thursday 20 August, with results released from around 8am. Whatever the day brings, it’s worth knowing exactly what to expect and that a traditional sixth form or college isn’t the only route from here. For learners who want to leave school, do something different, and still walk away with...

Read more

What Is a Military Preparation Academy? A Guide for School Leavers

Since 1999, MPCT Military Academies have helped more than 10,000 young people move into the Armed Forces, sport and fitness, further education, or other careers. If you’re a school leaver weighing up your options and a career in uniform has ever crossed your mind – even as a maybe – here’s what a Military Preparation...

Read more

Beyond Soldier, Sailor, Pilot: The Armed Forces Careers Nobody Tells You About

Say “career in the Armed Forces” and most people picture the same three jobs: infantry soldier, sailor, or fighter pilot. The British Army alone recruits for more than 100 roles across seven career areas – combat, engineering, medical, intelligence and communications, logistics and support, music, and HR and finance. With around 182,000 people currently serving...

Read more

Top 5 Exercises to Prepare You for UK Armed Forces Basic Training

Basic training doesn’t care whether you’ve trained before – it cares whether your body can keep going when it’s tired, cold, and carrying weight. Most people need 8-12 weeks of consistent training just to hit baseline entry standards, and longer if you’re aiming for a physically demanding role like the infantry or Parachute Regiment. Before...

Read more

Why Your Classroom Doesn’t Need Four Walls

If school ever felt like sitting still for six hours a day, you’re not alone and you’re not the problem. Not every mind works best behind a desk. At MPCT, the classroom isn’t a room at all. It’s a field, a fitness track, a team exercise outdoors in all weather. If that sounds more like...

Read more

Exploring Careers in the Armed Forces: More Than You Think.

When people think about careers in the Armed Forces, it’s often reduced to one image, life on the front line. But in reality, the Armed Forces offer a huge range of career opportunities, many of which don’t involve combat at all. From technical roles to healthcare, logistics to communications, there are hundreds of career paths...

Read more