Quite a bit of Gurkha mania going on in Sajha eh! I am chuffed! :) Ignitor, Thanks for starting the thread. I might perhaps furnish/update a few additional details in the BBC excerpt - it appears to be dated. Hereunder: The current Gurkha strength: around 3400. "The Gurkhas are now based at Church Crookham, Hampshire" Wrong. The UK based infantry battalion is now based at Folkestone, near Dover in the south east of England. We also have our Corps arms (Engineers, Signallers and Logisticians) as well as a whole raft of various sub-units and detachments, widely interspersed in-country. Then there's one infantry battalion deployed permanently in the Far East (Brunei). "but they do not become British citizens" Wrong. They now can, provided they've completed a period of five years in the Crown Service or after they have retired, in common with the rules that apply to those from Commonwealth countries. "They serve in a variety of roles, mainly in the infantry but with significant numbers of engineers, logisticians and signals specialists." Yes indeed. Their role has never been this diverse and demanding but one that is only timely, given the ever-evolving world conflict scenarios and the concomitant requirement to adapt to changes these bring about. Therein lies their unique trait: flexibility, the main raison d'etre that underpins their continued presence in the British Armed Forces as its integral part. Talking about roles, Gurkhas have of late served in a variety of non-traditional roles, often independently, from arduous field assignments that demand technical expertise/qualifications or a degree in a related field to even as far as flying (pilots) in Army Air Corps. "They keep to their Nepalese customs and beliefs, and the brigade follows religious festivals such as Dashain" Yes, a big part of the Gurkha life. It is during these occasions that the closeness between them is fostered more solidly - all very vital part of bonding/camaraderie but one that also helps them feel homesickness less acutely. ********************* Birbhadra, "Is it true that they only choose from certain ethnic groups who are these ethnic groups?" No, that's not the case. Anyone can join as long as he is a Nepali citizen, irrespective of cast/creed. Equal Opportunity and Diversity, you see - the big corporate catch word! However, you'll have to fulfil several criteria/standards before they can accept you as a potential Gurkha. Some of these are: (a) Health - self-explanatory. (b) Physical fitness standard - excellent, tested in a series of activities such as running including a gruelling Doko race on a near-vertical track that runs along the shoulder and the spur of a steep hill. (c) Education - the minimum standard is a good pass in SLC or Plus 2; I heard from my sources that the selectees this year were almost all SLC-passed with 1st Div. Changing times, surely. ******************** RSVP, "Hoina ta Lahure dai?" I'm assuming, that was addressed to me, ho? Some amusing comments. Have a cracking weekend all. Carpe diem