The Army changed my life

May 15 2009

A SPUR of the moment decision when a 17-year-old Gary Duncan was bored changed his life forever.

Now a 35-year-old Corporal, Gary has travelled the world with the army.

But things could have been totally different.

Gary explained: “I worked in St Andrew’s tyre centre in East Road in Irvine in 1991.

“The army careers office was next door to it.

“So one day when I was bored and fed up, I jumped the wall and went in.

“Now I’ve only four years of service left to do.”

Throughout his 18 years of service Gary, who now lives in Dundonald, has been to Bosnia, Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, Poland, Canada, Cyprus, Germany and Inverness.

During this exercise in Kenya, Gary’s job is to replenish the guys on the ground with water, food and ammunition.

And his quick decision all those years ago is not one he regrets.

Gary continued: “Coming to somewhere like this and seeing all the wildlife is great. So far we’ve seen ostriches, baboons, camels, and the odd creepy crawly. It’s completely different from anywhere else I’ve been.

“Being in the army has given me opportunities that otherwise I wouldn’t have got in my life.

“It would cost thousands of pounds to come to Kenya and experience the wildlife and scenery.

“And when we go to Canada we’ll have the chance to go skiing in the Rocky mountains. Normally that would cost a fortune but we’re getting paid to do it.”

Gary concluded: “Being in the army has given me some of the best times in my life and it’s also given me some of the worst – but I love my job.”

However, Gary equally loves the thought of going home to his wife Lisa and daughters Hannah, 8, and Carrie, 5.