News & Events

News & Events / Former MPCT Newport Learner, Sam Griffiths excels at Sandhurst.

Former MPCT Newport Learner, Sam Griffiths excels at Sandhurst.

Sam Griffiths, a former MPCT learner and legendary member of the 300 club has had no end of achievements since leaving the Newport college. Sam joined Airbus’ Fuel and Landing gear test facility team in 2017 as a final year undergraduate engineering apprentice and has made an impact within Airbus already. However it is not just in his Airbus career that Sam is proving his potential, for he is celebrating the fact that he has just been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) as a Troop Commander within 100 Field Squadron.

Sam was unfortunately furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but quickly turned this situation into a positive.

After isolating away from friends and family for eight weeks within a bubble at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Sam completed the necessary modules to satisfy the requirements to become an Officer within the British Army Reserve. Not fully satisfied with his already impressive achievements at Sandhurst, Sam subsequently enrolled on a two week troop commanders course, graduating with the ability to command a group of soldiers within the Royal Engineers. Sam has said that the hard work and sleep deprivation are overshadowed by the overall enjoyment of the selection process.

Sam felt that MPCT gave him the initial drive and determination to focus clearly on his chosen path to success, MPCT gave him a wealth of basic knowledge and understanding when it came to the military, “MPCT prepared me for military life”. MPCT helped boost his confidence especially when it came to interviews, he felt more prepared when answering questions thanks to the skills he learnt during his time at Newport MPCT. Sam felt his overall time on our programme helped his drive to succeed.

We asked Sam if he had any advice for any potential young recruits and here’s what he said –

“Wherever you are in your journey right now, whatever regiment you’re in, as long as you’re happy doing what you’re doing then that’s the most important thing” Sam says he absolutely loved his time at MPCT and the things he learnt were invaluable even if at the time he didn’t realise it, he does now. “

Sam Griffiths

We wish Sam well with his future endeavours and thank him for his time on sharing his experiences.

Back to news articles

Find Your Force: Army, Royal Navy, RAF or Royal Marines?

If you’re thinking about a career in the Armed Forces, you might already have one of them in mind, or you might have absolutely no idea and that’s completely normal. Each service offers different careers, environments and experiences. So which one could be right for you? Army If you like being active, working outdoors and...

Read more

What Fitness Level Do You REALLY Need to Join the Armed Forces?

Think you need to be ridiculously fit before you can even think about joining the Armed Forces? The good news is that you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, but you do need to be prepared to work on your fitness. If you’re starting from scratch, here’s what you actually need to know. First...

Read more

Could You Survive a Day in the Armed Forces? 10 Things Need to Know

If you’ve ever watched an Army documentary, played a military game or thought about a career in the Armed Forces, you might have wondered what life is actually like. Is it really as tough as people make out? What do you do all day? And would you actually enjoy it? The truth is, military life...

Read more

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