Major Danny Cousland returns to AFC (Army Foundation College) Harrogate as Inspecting Officer, 18 years after graduating from the College as a Junior Soldier.
Former AFC Harrogate graduate now commands a specialist Uncrewed Aerial Systems battery supporting 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team.
Full-circle moment highlights the role AFC Harrogate plays in developing the next generation of Army leaders.
Last month, Major Danny Cousland returned to the Army Foundation College Harrogate as an Inspecting Officer, completing a remarkable full-circle moment in a career that began on the college square more than 18 years ago.
Major Danny Cousland (Left) talks to a Captain from Army Foundation College during g his inspecting Officer visit to the college in Harrogate.
Major Danny Cousland shares a laugh with a soldier from intake 82 & 83 during his passing off parade at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.
Major Danny Cousland completes his inspection of soldiers from 82 & 83 intake at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate during their passing off parade.
Now commanding 21 (Gibraltar 1779-83) Air Assault Battery, part of 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, Major Cousland attended the graduation parade not only as an Inspecting Officer, but as someone who once stood in the same place as the Junior Soldiers passing out before him.
The 35-year-old grew up in London, and a combination of frequent school moves, undiagnosed dyslexia and difficult circumstances left him with little confidence, but AFC Harrogate provided the stability and opportunity he needed to succeed.
Today, as Battery Commander of a specialist Uncrewed Aerial Systems battery supporting 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, he leads soldiers operating cutting-edge technology at the forefront of modern warfare.
Looking back, he credited Harrogate with giving him the chance to unlock his potential.
Portrait of Major Danny Cousland Royal Artillery.
He said: "Harrogate and the Army gave me consistency, and a path to follow, with predictable results. If I work hard, I will succeed. It was down to me. The Army gave me control of my future."
Returning as Inspecting Officer was an opportunity he did not take lightly. While he knew the day would belong to the graduates and their families, he hoped to offer a few words of encouragement: “Work hard, be honest, help those around you and have fun."
He also stressed the importance of learning and adapting throughout a military career.
"The most important skill for soldiering is the ability to learn. You will get things wrong and make mistakes, so long as you learn, you’ve never truly failed."
For those considering joining AFC Harrogate, his message was equally straightforward:
"Go for it. Embrace the opportunity to learn and invest in yourself. It’s one of the rare opportunities that is simply win-win."
AFC Harrogate is the only Junior Entry Basic Training establishment in the British Army. The college plays a vital role in providing the basic military training and developing future leadership. It offers a mix of military training, personal development and education for under 19s that provides them skills to succeed in the Armed Forces, and their lives beyond the military.
The British Army is recruiting right now to fill 10,000 jobs across the UK with more than 200 roles to choose from, covering everything from frontline combat and cyber security to helicopter pilots, chefs and support roles. If you’re aged 16 to 50 and if you want to find out more about a career in the Army, click Army Jobs website.