The Army is opening a new recruitment centre in Swindon.

Next month it will be moving back to Commercial Road after being in a number of homes in the town over the years. The centre was also in Faringdon Road and Milton Road.

Despite heavy casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan – with more than 100 personnel killed last year – the Army has no problems in recruiting, seeking to sign on 25,000 recruits every year.

The current strength of the British Army is just over 100,000 regular personnel and it mainly recruits within the United Kingdom. When there was low unemployment in Britain the Army did have difficulty in meeting its target and there has a been a marked increase in the number of recruits from Commonwealth countries.

The minimum recruitment age to join the army is 16 years, after the end of GCSEs, although soldiers may not serve on operations below 18 years. The maximum recruitment age was raised in January 2007 from 26 to 33 years. The normal term of engagement is 22 years, and once enlisted soldiers are not normally permitted to leave until they have served at least four years.

For the recruitment centre in Swindon property consultants Alder King let the ground floor of 129 Commercial Road/34 Regent Circus to the Secretary of State for Defence, on a new 15 year lease.

The shop is a 1,353 sq ft (125.68 sq m) ground floor unit and is being fitted out for use as a public caller office promoting recruitment to the Armed Forces.

Alison Williams, senior surveyor at Alder King, said: “The property is in a prominent position at the corner of Commercial Road and Regent Circus in the town centre. Its location and frontage make it an ideal location for a drop in recruitment centre.”