Ben Hits The Target
A Year 11 student, with aspirations to join the Army, has been given a boost by beating hundreds of teenagers from across the region to win first prize in a shooting competition.
Ben Watson, was awarded a trophy for his triumph at the Army Careers Exhibition 2010 held at RAF Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire earlier this month.
The student had attended the event along with 40 other KSA pupils from Years 10 and 11, as part of the Academy's enterprise events.
Ben scored an incredible 20 out of 20 in the laser shooting competition - the only person during the two-day event who did so.
He was presented with an engraved tankard and certificate during an assembly yesterday (May 11th).
He said: "I used to attend a local shooting club with my uncle so I have had some shooting practice.
"However I did not expect to hit every target - the Army staff were surprised and said I had done well."
Ben intends to join the Army when he finishes his GCSEs and has already passed through certain stages of the selection process. His intention is to join the Royal Anglian Regiment - first of all entering the bursary scheme and spending two years training to be a chef, before entering the full time army.
He said: "I have always wanted to go into the army - it has been my dream for as long as I can remember.
"What attracts me to the career is the challenges it will present as well as the rewards and I see it as a service which helps other people around the world."
During the Army Careers Exhibition event Ben joined his fellow students in a day of activities which involved taking part in an obstacle course, a climbing wall, mini bikes paint balling, laser shooting and weapons training.
The students also listened to talks from army personnel.