Editing Brigade of Gurkhas (section)

== Recruitment and basic training ==
The selection process for the Gurkhas is demanding: in 2017, 230 trainee riflemen were recruited from about 25,000 applicants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/Content/Gurkhas/recruiting.php|title=Recruiting|website=khukurihouseonline.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209223050/http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/Content/Gurkhas/recruiting.php|archive-date=9 February 2017}}</ref> Recruitment is run by [[British Gurkhas Nepal]]; based at [[Jawalakhel]], near [[Kathmandu]], the main recruiting centre is in the city of [[Pokhara]]. Recruitment sees the prospective soldier undergo two stages of selection; first the regional selection at either Pokhara or [[Dharan]], where the recruit undertakes a series of physical tests, written [[English language|English]] and [[numeracy]] assessments, and an [[interview]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/gurkha-recruitment/regional-selection/ |title=Regional Selection |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Brigade of Gurkhas |publisher=British Army |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref> Those that pass regional selection move forward to the central selection process in Kathmandu, which sees further physical and language tests, a medical and a second interview.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/gurkha-recruitment/central-selection/ |title=Central Selection |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Brigade of Gurkhas |publisher=British Army |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref>

Training for Gurkhas is conducted at the [[Infantry Training Centre (British Army)|Infantry Training Centre]] at [[Catterick Garrison]] in [[North Yorkshire]]. It lasts for 36 weeks and addresses a range of areas such as the Brigade ethos, language training, cultural training, career management and trade selection, as well as the same 26-week Combat Infantryman's Course that the Line Infantry receive. This enables the trained Gurkha soldiers to fulfill their roles on operations and continue the traditions of their forefathers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24434.aspx|title=The British Army – Gurkha training|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=2016-10-27}}</ref>

In addition to running recruitment of soldiers to join the British Army, British Gurkhas Nepal also runs the recruitment process for the [[Gurkha Contingent]] of the [[Singapore Police Force]]. Recruits indicate at the registration stage whether they wish to join the Singapore Police or the British Army.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/gurkha-recruitment/recruit-registration/ |title=Recruit Registration |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Brigade of Gurkhas |publisher=British Army |access-date=8 May 2020 }}</ref>

Although all enlisted Gurkha soldiers are recruited from Nepalese citizens in Nepal, officers in the Brigade are either selected from those who have distinguished themselves in the ranks, or are commissioned from British or Commonwealth cadets at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]. Officers from Sandhurst attend an intensive language course at Pokhara Camp to enable them to converse with their soldiers in the [[Nepali language]], although Gurkha soldiers are also expected to learn English.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/27206 |title=The Royal Gurkha Rifles Potential Officers Guide |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=www.army.mod.uk |publisher=British Army |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>