From MPCT Teesside to 3 PARA — an outstanding achievement and an inspiration to future learners!

MPCT Teesside is incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of former learner Dominic Thirwell, who has gone from strength to strength since beginning his journey into the British Army.

During his training at the Army Foundation College (AFC) Harrogate, Dominic had the honour of meeting His Majesty King Charles III and was recognised as the Fittest Recruit, highlighting his outstanding fitness, dedication and determination.

His success continued at Catterick, where he completed the challenging P Company course and earned the prestigious title of P Company Champion — an exceptional achievement demonstrating his resilience and commitment.

Dominic has now been posted to 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA), marking another exciting milestone in his military career.

His journey is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through hard work, discipline and a positive attitude. His success will undoubtedly inspire current MPCT learners who aspire to follow a similar path into the Armed Forces.

Everyone at MPCT Teesside is incredibly proud of Dominic and the achievements he has accomplished so far. Congratulations, Dominic! From MPCT Teesside to 3 PARA an outstanding achievement and a true success story!

Back to news articles

6 November 2026

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Joining MPCT

Starting somewhere new can be a bit intimidating. New people. New instructors. New routines. If you’re joining MPCT because you’re thinking about a future in the Armed Forces, you might have a whole list of questions running through your head. So, what would previous learners tell you if they could go back to their first...

27 October 2026

College isn’t working for me, what can I do next?

You thought college was going to be the next step. Maybe your friends went there, maybe it seemed like the obvious choice after school, maybe you picked a course because you weren’t completely sure what else to do. But now you’re there and something just isn’t clicking. You could be not enjoying it, struggling to...

23 October 2026

What Happens When You Join the Military? From Application to Basic Training

Thinking about joining the Armed Forces can feel like a massive decision. If you’ve never spoken to anyone who’s been through the process, you might have no idea what actually happens after you decide to apply. Here’s a simple breakdown. Step 1: You decide to apply It sounds obvious, but this is where everything...

8 October 2026

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...

30 September 2026

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...

23 September 2026

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...

News & Events