Sarah Atherton MP, Member of Parliament for Wrexham has been successful in her application to join the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.
Established by Conservative MP, Sir Neil Thorne in 1989, this scheme provides military training to MPs of the UK Parliament. The course seeks to educate representatives through the first-hand experience, thereby improving the quality of debate on military issues.
MPs will spend 30 days spread across the year completing an intensive training course and an embedded attachment.
They will receive the same level of training as regular service personnel, after which they graduate to the same level as a Major, Squadron Leader or Lt Colonel depending on their choice of Armed Forces branch.
This week, Sarah completed her first visit on the scheme. The three day ‘Introduction to Defence’ course at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, provided a unique and privileged opportunity to experience Defence’s principal academic learning facility.
Sarah said:
“I am absolutely delighted to join the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme for its 2020-2021 course.
"As someone who has served in the British Armed Forces, this is very important to me.
"I feel that it is very important to keep up to date with the modern day issues that our brave service personnel face in order to accurately represent their views and interests in Parliament."