A Wanganui student has won a Defence Force medal for her sterling leadership qualities during a hard army-run course.
Ashlee Morgan, who is a Skills4Work student with Training For You, was one of three Wanganui youth who attended the six-week Limited Service Volunteer course held at Trentham army base.
She said she was initially apprehensive about the strict military routine but she grew to love it.
"There was no contact with the outside world ... on the first day I said 'Oh my gosh, what am I doing here?' but by the fourth day I knew I had to be there."
She said each day started with a 1.5km march to the mess for breakfast, one of three such treks each day, followed by cleaning the barracks for inspection, lessons from Work and Income and Careers NZ, and physical training with an army instructor.