The Army

Front-line and behind-the-scenes staff work together to protect the UK’s security, helping the Army act as an international peacekeeper and deliver humanitarian aid in more than 30 countries .

The Army is one of the UK’s largest employers.

Graduates usually enter the Army as officers – the managers of the military world – but it’s also possible to join as a soldier. There are opportunities to earn practical and professional qualifications, which can be transferred to many other industries. Whatever your role, adventure, responsibility and travel can all be part of your working life – you’ll be a professional with real responsibility for the safety and security of others.

Job opportunities on offer in the Army

• Combat allows you to be in the thick of the action. You could play a key role in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions around the world as an infantry soldier, gunner or tank crewman.
• Engineering is about solving problems – everything from providing plumbing solutions for Army bases to troubleshooting for the complex weapons systems of the Challenger tank.
• Healthcare specialists look after the Army’s most important and valuable resources: the soldiers, officers and animals. Jobs include doctors, nurses, dental hygienists and biomedical scientists.
• HR, administration and finance play a vital role in maintaining the smooth running of the Army and the effectiveness of its force.
• IT and communications involves maintaining technological and communications networks throughout the world. You’ll work with a range of equipment, from telecommunications, data and video, to IT systems, satellite, radio and radio relay stations.
• Logistics allows the Army to function by making sure the proper resources are available. Logistics experts supply all the resources needed to keep soldiers, equipment and machinery in top condition. 
• Specialists are required for various positions – you could look after Army horses, join the Royal Military Police, train service dogs or play in an Army band.

Army recruitment

To become an officer in the Army:

1. Attend an advisory interview, where you can discuss the opportunities available and work out what role would most suit you. Your interviewers can also arrange a trip to a regiment or corps that interests you for a further interview.
2. Apply for a commission and attend the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB). This lasts three days, and includes a selection briefing, medical and fitness tests, and assessment of your intellectual abilities, practical skills and leadership potential. 
3. To enter the Army at officer level you also need to apply for sponsorship from a regiment or corps. You will not have to make a final decision about which one, however, until half way through your initial training.
4. If you are successful, you will be eligible to begin training at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. Most officers complete the 44-week commissioning course, which includes training in management and leadership, fitness and weapons handling, as well as a week of adventurous training. Most new officers join on an extendable three-year short service commission.