Last updated 15:33, Friday, 27 June 2008

A TRAINING and education officer is, first and foremost, a military officer, whose role is both leader and manager. They must lead and manage a team of specialists, helping them to develop their skills to a high level.

Training and education branches are responsible for the continued education of all ranks within their service. Most activities will take place at a base or station, but there will be occasions when staff will be required to fulfil a field operational role.

Typical work activities include:

• instructing in subjects, including military studies, engineering and management. This ranges from the most basic level right through to technical or degree level work;
• co-ordinating language training;
• administrative tasks;
• liaising with external providers;
• maintaining community relations.

Salary and Conditions

GRADUATES enter the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Dartmouth, or the RAF College, Cranwell, as graduate officer cadets.

The starting salary is £21,880. Officer commissions are confirmed upon successful completion of initial officer training and, with increments for having a degree qualification, their salary increases to approximately £26,299.

Salaries at senior level or with experience can range from £42,000 to £70,000, depending on rank and seniority.

In general, training and education officers work in offices and classrooms, but all armed forces officers are required to remain physically fit for exercises and active service in the field.

As an officer you are given a high level of responsibility early in your career.

Entry requirements

ALL three armed forces recruit graduates as officers and provide initial officer training and continuation of technical and professional training.

The academic subject requirements for entry into the training and education branches vary between the forces, but in all three a degree is essential and entry is not possible with an HND only. GCSE maths and English language (A-C) are essential.

The Royal Navy recruits training management officers with degrees in mathematics, computer science, engineering or a physics-based discipline.

The RAF will consider applications from graduates with any scientific or engineering degree. It will also consider applications from graduates with qualified teacher status (QTS) or with a training-related degree.

The Army will consider the widest range of subjects, but it has a particular interest in scientists, engineers and linguists.

Potential candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• communication skills
• a commitment to take and exercise responsibility
• leadership ability.

You must be a UK national with five years’ UK residency. For most branches of the armed forces there are medical and eyesight requirements, and age limits. Physical fitness is needed.

The selection process takes up to a year and high standards, at the selection board and throughout the basic training, must be reached in order to be successful.

All three services run a system of sponsorship so that if you apply for a commission prior to your final year you may be eligible for a bursary.

If you are considering the Army, an initial interview will decide whether to recommend you for a familiarisation visit to the Adjutant General’s Corps. There, you will be given a two-day pre-Regular Commissions Board (RCB) briefing. If you are satisfactory, they will sponsor you for the four-day RCB. The process consists of a series of physical, mental and intellectual tests, both individually and as part of a group.

There are also in-depth interviews. Both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force follow a similar process.

Training

ALL three armed forces recruit graduates as officers and provide initial officer training followed by specialist professional or technical training, at Sandhurst (the Army), the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, or the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell.