Young to get taste of military discipline

£600,000 contract . . . Mike Hamilton

Former soldier Mike Hamilton has won a £600,000 contract to instil discipline and raise results among troubled youngsters.

Under a £1.9 million initiative, four projects will pass on values taught in the military to children excluded from school.

Ex–servicemen will be employed to help instil teamwork, discipline and leadership skills through mentoring, outward bound activities and other group exercises such as military–style obstacle courses.

Failsworth bomb disposal expert Mike, a director of Commando Joe’s, will use the £600,000 package to expand his business nationwide.

The 32 year old, who served in the Royal Engineers for eight years formed the company after leaving the army.

St Joseph’s RC School in Shaw was one of the first to use his expertise to help youngsters be enthused by keeping fit.

Starting Commando Joe’s as an after–school activity in 2009, he has slowly expanded, recruiting extra instructors to teach military–style fitness and one–to–one mentoring, as well as tailor–made team–building exercises and activities.

“We teach children the skills we learned in the army. Not everyone wants to be a soldier, but the skills we learn in the military are brilliant and I think anybody can use them in any job,” he said.

As well as providing help for children, Commando Joe’s’ gives employment opportunities to ex–servicemen and women and the extra funding will allow Mr Hamilton to train 30 new instructors to grow the company, which has relocated to larger premises in Leigh.

“The Government funding has probably fast–tracked us by about five or 10 years,” he said, adding: “The instructors are all ex–military personnel — they are role models and kids look up to and aspire to be like them. When we go to a school playground children hang on every word.”