A man from Watford joined around 170 officer cadets in a graduation ceremony at the Army’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Friday. 

Second Lieutenant Michael Thaibsyah, 22, passed out from Sandhurst marking the completion of 44 weeks of intensive military and academic training, combined with adventurous training and sporting challenges. 

It prepares Officer Cadets for the challenges in the British Army, where they will be responsible for leading a platoon of 30 soldiers, managing their skills, workloads and welfare. 

Second Lieutenant Thaibsyah and all the graduating officer cadets, in front of friends and family, took part in the Sovereign's Parade in front of Her Majesty’s representatives, the Defence Secretary, the Right Honourable Michael Fallon MP and the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen. 

The parade is a key milestone for every Army officer and has been run at the end of each term for more than 200 years.

The ceremony coincides with a nationwide Army recruitment campaign, designed to attract people into hundreds of full time and part time Army officer jobs. 

Second Lieutenant Thaibsyah will be joining the Royal Engineers.

The parade ended in traditional fashion with the Academy Adjutant riding a horse up the steps of Old College, following the graduating officer cadets through the grand entrance.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "I’m so proud to see these new officers take up their commissions with the British Army. Passing out from Sandhurst means they have joined the ranks of some of the best trained and most highly respected Army officers in the world."