Early Life and Education
Joyce lived in Perth with his family for most of his infant and teenage years.
Joyce joined the Army in 1978, initially as a private in the Black Watch before taking a sabbatical between 1981 and 1987 to attend technical college and university where he gained a BA (Hons) in religious studies from University of Stirling. As a university candidate Joyce was made a probationary second lieutenant on 25 August 1987. In 1987 he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Royal Army Educational Corps (later Adjutant General's Corps) as a subaltern with seniority to the 7 October 1981. After receiving his commission he continued his studies part-time and acquired an MA in Education from the University of Bath and an MBA from Keele University. During his time in the army he served in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Germany and Central America. He was promoted to captain on 25 January 1990 and to major in 1992. He left the army, by resigning his commission on 12 March 1999, amid controversy after describing the armed forces as "racist, sexist and discriminatory," before going on to serve as the Public Affairs Officer at the Commission for Racial Equality (Scotland).
Read more about this topic: Eric Joyce
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