He also comes back to his former place of study to give advice to current students
An Ipswich Town fan gained promotion from a public services course at college to a premier role with the Grenadier Guards.
Miles Bacon, 19, currently lives in London within the iconic Wellington Barracks, but the teenager grew up in Ipswich and studied at Suffolk New College.
Whilst at the main campus of the college based on Rope Walk, Miles worked with a military charity called BLESMA and led out a student parade in front of the whole college as part of the annual remembrance commemorations in 2023.
After his course, he signed up to join the army and after a 30-week training camp in Catterick, he joined the Grenadier Guards and this year he lined up in front of King Charles at the 2024 Trooping the Colour in June.
Next up for Miles was a trip back to Suffolk New College where he shared his experiences with current students on public service courses.
On his time at the college, Miles said: “I loved the practical side of the course. I was giving out orders during remembrance. I remember receiving riot training with the police and I enjoyed some of our sailing courses. Many of the teachers served for their country so you looked up to them. Everything was a stepping stone to what I am doing now.
“I’m the first in my family to join the armed forces – I like staying fit, being active and the army appealed to me,” he added.
In terms of my current role, I’m a guardsman in the British Army – learning drills at Buckingham Palace as well as field soldiering. I joined in September 2023 and I like the ceremonial duties. Not only have I ‘trooped the colour’, I’ve been at the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.
“It’s gone really well. Training was difficult – it’s a shock to the system – but it is meant to be like that. If you get through that, you feel like you are ready for anything.
“My advice to others is to go for it. Finish your course and get going – and that is what I told the students when I visited the college this week.
As for life outside of work, Miles is a tractor boy and is loving the new season. He said: “We (Ipswich Town Football Club) are a small fish in a big pond – but hopefully we continue to will do well.”
Student, Harrison Ratcliffe, 18, from Ipswich is on a level three public services course. Harrison said: “It was a really inspiring talk. You learn a lot more about the inside of the job and it has been really helpful. Learning about the training to get in the army is really helpful and enlightening.”
Martin Memory is the head of public services as Suffolk New College. Martin said: “Miles is an example of what you can achieve in a short space of time after learning with us. It was great to welcome he back to Suffolk New College.”