Ace troops prepare for the urban jungle.

Byline: By Catherine Lillington

A MIDLAND company has begun work training the Army's most ferocious and hardy fighters for a new mission -becoming kind and polite doorstaff.

In a departure from their normal jungle combat training or the mountains of their Himalayan homeland, the Gurkhas will be coached by Train 4 Security in how to work at nightclubs and pubs.

Where conflict resolution in the past often meant an appointment with the Gurkhas' famous Kukri knife, the Droitwich firm is attempting a slightly gentler approach.

Fifteen members of the Royal Gurkha Rifles will be among the first from their regiment to receive initial four-day training programme, which will result in a Security Industry Authority licence, needed to work in the industry.

Staff from Train 4 Security will travel to the Gurkhas' base in Folkestone, Kent, to carry out the programme, which is intended to prepare soldiers for life when they leave the forces.

Esther Ruggiero, managing director of Train 4 Security, said: "It is to make their skills a bit more gentle and appropriate to the security industry.

"It will involve things like conflict management, talking people down and avoid conflict situations rather than killing people. If these people want to work in the security industry when they leave the Army, they will need this qualification."

The training will involve role playing as well as customer care elements.

Each delegate will undertake two examinations at the end of the course. Industry benefits of the new qualification are said to include a stable and well-trained workforce with secure futures and career prospects.

Train 4 Security clinched the pounds 25,000 contract last year, and is looking forward to training many members of the Gurkhas.

According to Mrs Ruggiero, size - most Gurkhas are not noted for their height - was not an issue.

She said: "This is part of getting people ready for civilian life. I think Gurkhas could make excellent security staff - they have attention to detail and a very disciplined approach."

Made up mainly of soldiers from the west of Nepal, the regiment is commanded by British Army officers, trained at The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, as well as Gurkha officers.

Gamarsing Gurung, of the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, said: "After a strict selection process, we appointed Train 4 Security to deliver the course due to their expertise and industry knowledge.

"It is vital that we comply with the industry's new regulations. By obtaining licences for key members of our regiment, we aim to maintain our professionalism and strong links with the UK's most influential security associations."

Phil Ruggiero, chief executive of Train 4 Security, said : "We are immensely proud to have been selected to provide industry training to such a significant battalion. Their formidable skills of strategy and tactics have been well documented over the years. By providing them with industry training, we hope to play a small part in helping them to maintain their specialist approach to safety and security.