A NEW face in charge of Army recruitment has been appointed.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Garry Bennett, MBE, is the new manager at the Armed Forces Careers office in Claypath, Durham City.

Originally from Newcastle, WO2 Bennett left school at 16 and joined the Army via the Army Careers Information office in Newcastle.

As a member of the Royal Artillery, he has served in Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada and the US.

In 1997, he was awarded an MBE for his work training US Marines on a prototype weapon for the artillery.

He moved into recruiting in 2002, at the Army's office in Darlington.

He said: "When I left school I knew that going to college or university wasn't for me and was attracted to the Army by travel opportunities and the excitement of a military career.

"Since enlisting I have earn-ed a very good salary and lived and worked in many fantastic places around the world. No other career could have given that quality of life. My son has followed in my footsteps and into an Army career."