Ever since he can remember, 19-year-old Anthony Cole from Co Meath has wanted to be a soldier. "I've always liked the look of weapons," he says. In January 1997, a few months before he sat his Leaving, Anthony joined the FCA. "Through the training I got there, I became more interested in the Army. I applied in September 1998 and had my interview, medical and physical done by October. Early in January I got word to come in May 1999 for training."

Some 49 recruits signed up at Cathal Brugha Barracks on that day in May, moved to McKee Barracks to collect their uniforms and then travelled to their base in Gormanston, Co Meath. "We spent the first week on an induction course," Anthony recalls. "It was a big surprise and not what I had expected. The NCOs didn't shout at us, but explained everything."

After that it was down to foot drill. "We learned how to march, we did arms drill and training with weapons," he notes. Understandably, the Army places a great emphasis on fitness and recruits participate in daily PT sessions. "You have to pass a PT test every year. You have to do a two-mile run in 15 minutes and 33 press-ups and sit-ups in a minute each." The first few weeks were the hardest, according to the new recruit, since "very few of us were really fit".

Over the worst, these days they're involved in running, route marches, combat, PT and circuit training. They take evening classes in weapons, technical training, first aid and health and safety.

"I enjoy it very much," Anthony affirms. "We're outdoors most of the time. For our practical and camouflage training we go down to the Glen of Imaal and Kilbride in Co Wicklow."

The days are long and the recruits enjoy little free time. "We're up at 6 a.m. and - if we're lucky - get to bed before midnight. We live in barracks with four to eight people in a room. There's a good atmosphere, because everyone is in the same boat. We have to clean our rooms and the barracks and at night we're getting ourselves ready for the next day - ironing our uniforms and bulling our boots. It's not too bad when you have eight lads doing the same thing and you can have a laugh. There's great friendship. Everyone's the same and you want everybody to get through."

By the end of this month, Anthony will have completed his recruit training and after a short break, he'll embark on his three star training. After that it's off to a unit and "we'll take it from there. You can apply for any courses that pop up - NCO or weapons' training or an overseas posting, for example. In the Army it's up to yourself - if you want to make a go of it, you get down and do the hard work and you get the rewards".