WHEN you’ve got thousands of people queuing for a major sporting event, it’s crucial that everyone is inside and seated before the starter’s pistol goes off.

That’s one of the tasks a soldier from the Scottish Borders has been carrying out at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Private Craig Jack, who comes from Jedburgh, is part of the military venue security force, and it’s his job to ensure that getting the thousands of spectators into the Scottish Exhibition Conference Centre (SECC) goes smoothly.

Craig, who serves with 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (The Black Watch) at Fort George in Inverness, said he was delighted to be selected to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime event in his native Scotland.

The 23-year-old said: “I wasn’t sure if the public would feel a little intimidated seeing us at the security checkpoints, but they like seeing us out and about, and doing stuff. Everyone we’ve seen today seems to be happy to see us, and to have a good time.” Craig said he was also enjoying working alongside his RAF and Royal Navy colleagues. “You hear all these stories about the other services but, after working here - with men and women - I’ve realised that everyone is the same.

“Being in the infantry, it’s just males that you see every single day, so it’s good to get a female perspective. It makes the day a lot better, so I’m enjoying it.” A keen sportsmen himself, Craig plays football for the battalion and enjoys going to the gym. After leaving Jedburgh Grammar School, Craig worked as a tree surgeon before joining the Army in 2011, and has since completed an operational tour on the Falkland Islands.

Craig is one of approximately 2,500 service personnel assisting Police Scotland to ensure that the 20th Commonwealth Games are safe, secure and smooth-running.

Members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force personnel are assisting the police and stewarding staff to ensure that thousands of spectators, who have poured into Glasgow from all over the world, get into venues safely and quickly.

Service personnel are also providing search teams for five of the major venues at the Games and have spent the past few weeks training for those roles.

The Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow from July 23 until August 3.