HIGH Wycombe squaddie Darren Outten has set the pace after being promoted just 17 weeks into his army career.

The former Great Marlow School pupil signed up last August and has just completed his basic training at the Army Training Regiment in Hertfordshire.

Darren, 17, of the Royal Engineers was awarded a distinction for the promotion, which saw him jump rank from Sapper to Junior Corporal.

He said: "I joined the army to get a career with good pay, and to travel. I wanted to make my family proud and do a job that would make a difference."

Inspecting officer, Brigadier Jonathon, OBE, presented the teenager with an engraved pewter tankard during his passing-out parade on April 29.