FORMER deputy head girl at Selkirk High, Skye Shiell, has taken the first step on a medical career with the RAF.

The 19-year-old marched out of her Graduation Parade at RAF Halton earlier this month to mark the completion of her recruit training.

Trainee medic Skye arrived at the RAF training establishment in Wendover, Buckinghamshire last May.

During the subsequent 10 weeks she underwent intensive and sometimes arduous training which enabled her to meet the high standards required in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces today.

Skye told us: "The training was wide and varied with regular fitness tests, inspections, drills, force protection training and field craft.

"I was also taught how to survive and fight in a rural environment - skills which were tested during a 48 hour exercise in the Welsh countryside."

The former Selkirk High School pupil aspired towards a career in the medical profession and discovered the RAF was able to give her the opportunity to learn and develop these skills on a professional level.

Following phase one of her training, she now moves onto the second phase which involves a year's medical training based at the Defence College Health Education Training (DCHET), situated at the Defence Medical Services Whittington in Lichfield.