News & Events

News & Events / Our Girl: MPCT Learner Takes TV Inspiration for Army Career

Our Girl: MPCT Learner Takes TV Inspiration for Army Career

MPCT Catterick learner, Debra Bell, is preparing to follow in the footsteps of BBC’s “Our Girl” and become a frontline army medic. Debra has had her sights set on joining the Army from a young age, originally as a System Communication Engineer. However, due to inspiration from the Military’s role during the Covid-19 pandemic, she now intends to join the medical corps.

In September, Debra will embark on a 14-week basic Army training, followed by 22 weeks at the Royal Army Medical School, at DMS Whittington.

Like Michelle Keegan’s character Georgie Lane in the BBC One show, Debra wants to save lives on the frontline across the World – and she is now in training to ensure she is at peak fitness and form when the time comes as, along with intense physical training, she is developing her leadership skills in the role of College Ambassador.

“This has been the perfect course for me,” said Debra, “because it’s given me the best possible preparation for a military career.

“I always knew I didn’t want to go to university, get a job, get married and settle down. I want to travel the world and I want to help people – to save their lives if I can – and I can’t wait to join up in the autumn.

Former Sandhurst instructor, Lawrence Corbett, said Debra embodies the focussed, results-driven approach instilled by her training team.

“A can-do attitude is embedded in us, as former military personnel ourselves and in our role training our young learners,” he said.

“Not all our students progress to military careers by any means, but Miss Bell has had her sights set on the Army for a long time.

“She knows what she wants and we have helped her get to the point where she can have it. She will be an asset to the armed forces and we are all very proud of her.”

Back to news articles

What to Expect on GCSE Results Day – And Why MPCT Could Be Your Next Step

GCSE results day 2026 falls on Thursday 20 August, with results released from around 8am. Whatever the day brings, it’s worth knowing exactly what to expect and that a traditional sixth form or college isn’t the only route from here. For learners who want to leave school, do something different, and still walk away with...

Read more

What Is a Military Preparation Academy? A Guide for School Leavers

Since 1999, MPCT Military Academies have helped more than 10,000 young people move into the Armed Forces, sport and fitness, further education, or other careers. If you’re a school leaver weighing up your options and a career in uniform has ever crossed your mind – even as a maybe – here’s what a Military Preparation...

Read more

Beyond Soldier, Sailor, Pilot: The Armed Forces Careers Nobody Tells You About

Say “career in the Armed Forces” and most people picture the same three jobs: infantry soldier, sailor, or fighter pilot. The British Army alone recruits for more than 100 roles across seven career areas – combat, engineering, medical, intelligence and communications, logistics and support, music, and HR and finance. With around 182,000 people currently serving...

Read more

Top 5 Exercises to Prepare You for UK Armed Forces Basic Training

Basic training doesn’t care whether you’ve trained before – it cares whether your body can keep going when it’s tired, cold, and carrying weight. Most people need 8-12 weeks of consistent training just to hit baseline entry standards, and longer if you’re aiming for a physically demanding role like the infantry or Parachute Regiment. Before...

Read more

Why Your Classroom Doesn’t Need Four Walls

If school ever felt like sitting still for six hours a day, you’re not alone and you’re not the problem. Not every mind works best behind a desk. At MPCT, the classroom isn’t a room at all. It’s a field, a fitness track, a team exercise outdoors in all weather. If that sounds more like...

Read more

Exploring Careers in the Armed Forces: More Than You Think.

When people think about careers in the Armed Forces, it’s often reduced to one image, life on the front line. But in reality, the Armed Forces offer a huge range of career opportunities, many of which don’t involve combat at all. From technical roles to healthcare, logistics to communications, there are hundreds of career paths...

Read more