 Instead, in 1924 it was decided to establish a British Army Army Apprentices School (which in 1966 was renamed as an Army Apprentices College) at Beachley to ensure a core of technical qualified soldiers with technical education combined with military training as potential NCOs and officers mainly for the specialist corps Royal Engineers, REME Plant Operator mechanics and RAOC.Since 2007 it has been the home of 1st Battalion, The Rifles.In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close in 2027.