IN times of war, the military services are necessarily thrown into high profile.

So it seems probable, the new army recruitment officer covering Wyre Forest might well be wondering whether Britain's entry in the NATO war in Kosovo will affect his work.

Will it attract a rush of action hungry applicants? Or will it frighten them off?

Sgt Tim Humber, a Kidderminster man born and bred and old boy of Wolverley High School, is a pragmatist, however, as he has to be in his new job and as is nature of his military training.

He expects most potential recruits this spring will be looking at long term career prospects rather than acting in response to news from the Balkans.

If any young person is prompted by the present conflict to visit the recruitment office in Worcester, however, Sgt Humber is just the man to talk to.

He has personal experience of military hot-spots having served himself in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.

And he is always honest to applicants about the chances of them seeing action.

Sgt Humber cannot say he never looked back after leaving school in 1987 and joining the 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

After his second posting in Northern Ireland - in bandit country as South Armagh is known in the army - he had the idea the grass was greener in Civvy Street in early 1995 - and left the army to work as a carpet deliverer.

It only lasted 14 months because he missed the camaraderie of the army and the interesting range of postings. Returning as a corporal and going to Bosnia on the humanitarian stabilisation mission reassured him he was in a responsible career.

The son of Maxwell Plumm, the comedian, he admits he was a ''Jack the Lad'' at school. He did not have much to show academically and he was persuaded the army offered options to youngsters of all abilities.

He has a sporty personality, liking football and tennis. This and his socialising nature meant he fitted in well with army life.

He also learned that failing to make the grade at school did not rule out a successful and responsible career in the military. Going to Northern Ireland for two-and-half years towards the end of the 1980s showed he had his wits about him, as he put it, and he thrived. He was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Now married to dental nurse Sarah and with a spell before him in a nine-to- five office job, the army has smiled kindly on the boy who left school not knowing what he wanted to be.