Army - Officer

Army officers lead and manage teams of soldiers. They are responsible for the training, welfare and discipline of the men and women under their command.

Officers serve in combat units, for example as platoon commanders, in engineering units, in information technology or in intelligence services. There are also opportunities in support roles such as chaplains, doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, lawyers and veterinary surgeons. Women serve alongside men in all regiments or corps except those involved in direct combat.

All army officers must be ready to serve anywhere in the UK and overseas and must be prepared to go into combat zones at any time.

The Work

You could be:

• leading your unit in a war zone


• leading your unit in peacetime exercises, to practise for battle


• leading your unit in peacekeeping or humanitarian duties


• organising soldiers and equipment, at home or overseas


• training new recruits


• doing administrative work at your base, in the UK or abroad.

Conditions

• You would normally join the army for at least four years if you are over 18, although you can opt to leave within the first 3 months if you give them 28 days' notice.


• If you are under 18 when you join, the four years start from your 18th birthday, and you can opt to leave within the first 6 months if you give them 28 days' notice.


• Working conditions vary, depending on where you are and what you are doing.


• If you are single you will live in the Officers' Mess. If you are married you will live in officer family quarters. You will sometimes have to live under field conditions.


• You may be away from home and family for several months on end.


• You can be sent anywhere in the UK or abroad, sometimes at short notice.


• You might have to work in very hot or very cold weather.


• Although normal hours are Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm, when you are on exercises or on operations hours will be irregular and may include weekends.


• It is not always adventurous and exciting; there is a lot of routine work.

Getting In

• You must have at least 3 Highers (180 UCAS tariff points) plus 3 Standard grades at general or credit level, including English, maths and a science subject or a language.


• You are more likely to get in if you have a degree – over 80% of entrants have degrees.


• If you agree to serve at least 3 years as an officer in the army, you might be sponsored to take a degree course.


• You must meet residence and nationality requirements – shown on the army website.


• The first part of the selection process is the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) Briefing, which lasts for 24 hours. It involves a series of mental and physical tests as well as a briefing session about the second part of the process.


• If you get through the AOSB Briefing you will go back for the three-and-a-half day AOSB Main Board, a series of tests to assess your suitability for officer training.


• You must normally be at least 17 years 9 months and under 29 years to enter the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).


• If you are under 18 your parents or guardians must agree to your joining.


• You must be fit and healthy – there is a strict medical examination. You must have good eyesight and normal colour vision.


• At present, women cannot join the Household Cavalry, the Royal Armoured Corps or the Infantry.

• Short Service Commission (SSC) - for at least 3 years (6 years in the Army Air Corps) – this can be extended.


• Intermediate Regular Commission (IRC) - you apply for this after at least 2 years on SSC - it runs for up to 16 years and can be converted to a Regular Commission.


• Regular Commission (Reg C) – this leads to a career of up to 35 years, or to the age of 60, whichever is earlier - it is taken by undergraduate cadets and officers with at least 2 years on IRC.

What Does It Take?

You should be:

• a good leader, able to take responsibility and inspire confidence


• able to enforce discipline


• courageous and self-disciplined


• resilient and resourceful


• a good organiser and communicator


• able to stay calm and work effectively, even in battle


• able to react quickly and take decisions under pressure


• able to deal with complex information


• able to work alone and also as part of a team.

Training

• You will take the 44-week officer training programme at RMAS. The course is split into three 14-week terms, each followed by a period of leave.


• Then you do specialised training for the corps you want to serve in.


• You keep up to date by attending training courses throughout your time in the army.


• If you join as a professionally qualified officer (for example, medical, dental or nursing officer, lawyer, veterinary surgeon or chaplain) you will follow a shortened course at RMAS, which includes basic military training, and lasts for four weeks.

Getting On

• There is a clear promotion route from second lieutenant to lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and beyond.


• You must pass exams to be promoted up to the rank of major, but after that it depends on how well you do.


• Experience in the army can be useful for a variety of jobs after you leave.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work


• what job you do.

More Information

For detailed information about the army, phone 08457 300 111 and visit its website at http://www.army.mod.uk/
The Ministry of Defence website at http://www.mod.uk/ will also be helpful.

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.