TWO Army recruits have followed in the footsteps of their fathers after being among the first to sign up this year.

Kyle Brown and Jake Batey, both 19, from Darlington, have sworn Oaths of Allegiance at the Darlington Army Careers Information Office (ACIO), and are about to embark on their military careers.

Serving for almost 24 years in The Royal Logistics Corps, Kyle's father, Warrant Officer Ian Brown, always encouraged his son to join the Army.

Kyle will now become an installation technician in The Royal Corps of Signals, working with military communications.

He said: "I'll begin my military training in the coming weeks and I can't wait. I've wanted to join the Army since I was a little boy and now that it's happening I just want to start forging a career in the Army that my dad can be proud of."

Having grown up in a military household, Jake knows what to expect from his career in The Royal Artillery as an unmanned air vehicle operator.

Jake's father, Chris Batey served in the Army's Royal Military Police for more than 22 years before taking the role of staff sergeant in the Territorial Army.

His step mother, Claire Moses, serves as a corporal in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Jake said: "I'm really proud to follow my father into the Army and I can't wait to show him just what I'm made of.

"Perhaps, in a few years, I'll be able to teach him a thing or two about Army life."

Also signing up were Dominic Dunn, 24; James Allan, 21; Stuart Alan, 24; Aarron Skipsey, 21; and Jamie Nichols, 19.