PRIVATE Robert Hetherington was one of hundreds of reserve soldiers sent to Afghanistan to fight alongside the "regulars".

Military experts say of the Territorial Army reserves that the regular army "could not survive without them." The TA has produced almost one in 10 soldiers who have served in Afghanistan, although a large number are medical staff.

Private Hetherington's passion for the army was sparked by time spent in the Officer Training Corps while studying for a degree in environmental geography at Stirling University. The US-born soldier had hoped to progress to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Sadly, his plans did not come to fruition.

At least 28 reserve soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since coalition forces intervened in 2001.

Last year, the MoD unveiled plans to reduce the size of the regular army from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020. An extra 30,000 reserves will be recruited to make up the shortfall, and save money.

The MoD says reservists will be better resourced, equipped, trained and able to take on a broader range of roles to meet the changing security challenges the UK will face in the future.

However, senior army officials and charities have raised concerns about the burden that can be placed on part-time soldiers, particularly with regard to coping with combat stress.