KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC):

Army officials have been assuring Caribbean nationals that they would be given equal opportunities to succeed as they continue a drive to recruit young people into the British army.

Major Allistair W. Fyfe, a 35-year army veteran, told the Caribbean Media Corporation that enlisting in the armed forces remains a viable career option for positive thinking, progressive young people and that Caribbean nationals should have no fear of victimisation in the army.

"I don't believe there is any racism in the army," he said, noting that this type of problem is avoided because of Britain's cosmopolitan blended society, which includes a large Caribbean population.

He also said that because the British Army consists of persons from diverse cultural backgrounds, it usually takes a while for synergy to develop among the soldiers, but eventually they gel together quite nicely.

"As the soldiers go through their training, there is a degree of exposure to a different culture, they get used to each other and learn from each other, until over a period of time, there is an understanding," Maj. Fyfe said.

Warrant Officer Paul Hughes, who accompanied Major Fyfe on his trip to St Vincent and the Grenadines, said while the army is looking for recruits, they only want the best.

Hughes said when the screening process begins in the various countries it is easy sometimes to identify those who would, and those who, sadly, would not make it through that initial physically demanding, elimination process.

"There are some persons that you could simply see the hunger in their eyes, while others, who know wouldn't be able to make it," Hughes said.

While the exact recruiting target is unknown, the visiting soldiers told CMC that it is likely 150 persons would be recruited from at least 500 applications.