The Army has hit its recruitment target for the first time in six years, after replacing ‘Kitcheners’ in the careers centres with young soldiers.

Changing from the traditional model of “old and bold recruiting sergeants” in Army careers offices has helped increase the number of new entrants to the forces.

Senior officers have hailed as a success the work of dynamic junior soldiers with recent operational experience, called role-model recruiters, in attracting prospective recruits, believing them to be better able to relate to young people.

The change in tactics has built on the increased interest in the Army from the controversial recent recruitment campaigns.

With seven weeks to go to the end of the recruiting year 99 per cent of the annual figure required has been met.

From a low point of only 60 per cent last year, almost all the 9,404 soldiers needed for the Army each year have started basic training.

Major General Paul Nanson, responsible for recruiting and basic training in the Army, said the key to success had been the "reset of the partnership" with Capita, the much-maligned services company running the recruitment process.

This year’s series of posters and social media adverts, titled ‘Army confidence lasts a lifetime’, has “strongly resonated with our main target audience," he said.

The campaign launched in January, built upon the ‘Snowflake’ series the year before, which featured images styled after the famous Lord Kitchener recruitment poster of the First World War.