Selection and Training in the British Army
Encyclopedia
Selection and training in the British Army is the process by which candidates for service are identified, inducted and brought onto the trained strength. The process is the responsibility of the Adjutant General, the personnel director for the Army based at Trenchard Lines in Wiltshire.
are first handled through Armed Forces Career Offices which are located in major conurbations around the United Kingdom supporting the respective recruitment functions. The selection process involves a number of suitability interviews, an aptitude test to identify training potential, medical and fitness assessments and a residential selection board. For potential soldiers this will include an opportunity to select a Regiment or Corps, as well as a trade to join. Later training is oriented around this choice. Officer candidates will, during the selection process, become sponsored by a Regiment or Corps to undertake training. This sponsor does not undertake to accept the candidate on completion of officer training.
Much training in the British Armed Forces has been accredited by various awarding bodies, resulting in the opportunity to gain civilian qualifications through service training activities.
The structure of training is different for soldiers and officers:
Prospective soldiers attend either one of five training establishments:
Phase 1 training is intended to bring all soldiers to a base level of military competency, capable of operating in the field, force protection, operational security and displaying the other characteristics of a member of the British Army. The training embeds the core values:
, as opposed to being divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2 training. The ITC is divided into four separate battalions; these are divided into companies, each of which are responsible for one of the infantry's administrative divisions:
Phase 1
In Phase 1, recruits cover the Trained Soldier Course (TAC) part A (this replaced CMS(R)in 2009) in a series of 6 training weekends at Regional Training Centre
s (RTCs). For non-infantry units, TSC concludes with a two week training course (TSC Part B) normally held at an Army Training Regiment, whilst infantry recruits have an extra 3 weekends and then go directly to their Phase 2 Training at Catterick. Recruits to the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
and the Honourable Artillery Company
complete their equivalent of CMS(R) within their own units.
Phase 2
Phase 1 is followed by Phase 2, a further period of specialist training specific to the type of unit the recruit is joining. This is normally conducted by the Arm or Service that the recruit is joining, for example for infantry units, Phase 2 consists of the two week Combat Infantryman's Course (TA) (CIC (TA)) held at the Infantry Training Centre
, Catterick
.
Module 1 is the same as the Common Military Syllabus (Recruit) course. As many Officers initially serve a period of time as Soldiers, this module is only undertaken by the minority that join the TA directly as Potential Officers under the Direct Entry TA Potential Officer (DETAPO) system.
Module 2 covers training in Tactics, Leadership, Doctrine and Navigation, both in theory and in practice, and a further series of selection and aptitude
tests are undertaken, usually spread over 10 weekends. This also includes passing The Army Officer Selection Board Briefing and Main Board, after which Potential Officers are formally designated as Officer Cadet
s.
Module 3 applies the theory taught in Module 2 into a 9 day Battle Camp. Modules 1 to 3 are run by Regional Training Centre
s around the UK.
Module 4. Passing the AOSB and Module 3 then enables Officer Cadets to attend an intensive three week Assessment at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, which forms Module 4.
On successful completion of Module 4, the Officer Cadets receive their Commission and become Second Lieutenant
s. Further training that is required prior to them being considered for operational deployment and promotion to Lieutenant
includes:
Post Commissioning Training (formerly known as Module 5), again run at an RTC, over 3 weekends.
Special To Arm training is specific to the type of unit the Subaltern is joining, for example, the 2 week Platoon Commander's
Battle Course held at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon
.
Selection
Candidates for all three of the British Armed ForcesBritish Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
are first handled through Armed Forces Career Offices which are located in major conurbations around the United Kingdom supporting the respective recruitment functions. The selection process involves a number of suitability interviews, an aptitude test to identify training potential, medical and fitness assessments and a residential selection board. For potential soldiers this will include an opportunity to select a Regiment or Corps, as well as a trade to join. Later training is oriented around this choice. Officer candidates will, during the selection process, become sponsored by a Regiment or Corps to undertake training. This sponsor does not undertake to accept the candidate on completion of officer training.
Training
Candidates for the Army undergo common training to bring all personnel to a similar standard in basic military skills, further specialist training is delivered subject to the Regiment or Corps that the individual has been identified as a candidate for. Completion of Phase 2 training brings the individual onto the trained strength however each of the British Armed Forces will continue to deliver specialist and generalist training throughout the individual career.Much training in the British Armed Forces has been accredited by various awarding bodies, resulting in the opportunity to gain civilian qualifications through service training activities.
The structure of training is different for soldiers and officers:
Soldier Training
There are two phases in the training for recruits into the regular army, phase 1 encompasses the Common Military Syllabus (Recruits) (CMSR) and phase 2 delivered by specialisation. CMSR covers the skills needed to survive and operate in a field environment, fitness and seeks to imbue the ethos and principles of the British Army. The trainee is required to demonstrate competence in thirteen training objectives over the fourteen week course.Phase 1
The initial phase features the basic training for all new recruits.Prospective soldiers attend either one of five training establishments:
| Title | Name | Course length | Attendees |
| Army Foundation College Army Foundation College The Army Foundation College in Harrogate trains future soldiers from the infantry, armoured corps, artillery and elements of the Royal Logistic Corps . School-leavers aged between 16 and 17 years and five months of age are eligible to join. The AFC offers young men and women the opportunity to... |
Harrogate | 42 wk | All Arms Junior Soldier |
| Army Training Regiment | Bassingbourn RAF Bassingbourn RAF Bassingbourn is a former military airbase located in Cambridgeshire approximately north of Royston, Hertfordshire and south west of Cambridge. During World War II it served first as an RAF station and then as a bomber base of the U.S. Eighth Air Force... |
14 wk |
|
| Army Training Centre | Pirbright | 14 wk | 2 Regiments
Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:... Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army... Royal Logistic Corps The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength... Adjutant General's Corps The Adjutant General's Corps is a corps in the British Army responsible for many of its general administrative services. As of 2002, the AGC had a staff of 7,000 people... Army Medical Services The Army Medical Services is the organisation responsible for administering the four separate corps that deliver medical, veterinary, dental and nursing services in the British Army... Corps of Army Music The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation, centred on the Royal Military School of Music, to oversee the 29 new permanent Military Bands formed following Options for Change, although each band continues to wear the capbadges and Full... |
| Army Technical Foundation College | Winchester | 23 wk | All Arms Junior soldiers |
| Infantry Training Centre | Catterick | 26 wk | Infantry recruits, combined Phase 1 and 2 |
Phase 1 training is intended to bring all soldiers to a base level of military competency, capable of operating in the field, force protection, operational security and displaying the other characteristics of a member of the British Army. The training embeds the core values:
- Courage
- Discipline
- Respect for others
- Integrity
- Loyalty
- Selfless Commitment
Phase 2
The second phase involves the new officer or soldier training for branch of the service they wish to specialise in, and then undergoing the specific training. This is with one of the specialist schools located around the country:| Name | Location | Arm | Comments |
| Infantry Training Centre | Catterick | Infantry | Combined Phase 1 and 2 |
| Armour Centre | Bovington Camp Bovington Camp Bovington Camp is a British Army base in Dorset, England.It is home to The Armour Centre, formerly the Royal Armoured Corps Centre and includes Allenby Barracks and Stanley Barracks. Bovington Tank Museum is adjoining.... |
|
RAC Depot |
| Royal School of Artillery Royal School of Artillery The Royal School of Artillery is the principal training establishment for artillery warfare in the British Army. Established in 1915, it is located at Larkhill, on the south edge of Salisbury Plain in the United Kingdom... |
Larkhill Larkhill Larkhill is a garrison town in the civil parish of Durrington, Wiltshire, England. It is a short distance west of Durrington village proper and north of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. It is about north of Salisbury.... |
Royal Artillery | n/a |
| School of Army Aviation | Middle Wallop Army Air Corps Middle Wallop Army Air Corps Middle Wallop is a British Army base near the Hampshire village of Middle Wallop. The base hosts 2 Regiment Army Air Corps and the School of Army Aviation. The role of 2 Regiment is training and so AAC Middle Wallop is the base where most Army Air Corps pilots begin their careers... |
Army Air Corps | AAC Depot |
| Royal School of Military Engineering Royal School of Military Engineering The Royal School of Military Engineering is the main training establishment for the British Army's Royal Engineers. After they have successfully completed their Phase 1 - Basic Soldier Training, members of the Corps of Royal Engineers attend 3 RSME, at Minley for Phase 2a - Combat Engineering... |
Various | Royal Engineers Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army.... |
HQ Brompton Barracks |
| Royal School of Signals Royal School of Signals The Royal School of Signals is a military training establishment that is part of the United Kingdom's Defence College of Communications and Information Systems. It is located at Blandford Camp in Dorset... |
Blandford Camp Blandford Camp Blandford Camp is a military base comprising some 390 hectares of downland lying 2 miles north-east of Blandford Forum in the county of Dorset in southern England.... |
Royal Corps of Signals Royal Corps of Signals The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army... |
R.Sigs Depot |
| Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training Group | Various | Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache... |
HQ Arborfield Garrison Arborfield Garrison Arborfield Garrison is a British Army garrison in the English county of Berkshire, approximately south east of the village of Arborfield Cross. The Garrison and its associated housing estates are split between the civil parishes of Arborfield and Newland and Barkham... |
| Defence Logistic Support Training Group | Various | Royal Logistic Corps Royal Logistic Corps The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength... |
HQ Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut The Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, commonly referred to as Deepcut Barracks, is the headquarters of the Royal Logistic Corps of the British Army and the Defence School of Logistics. Located near Camberley, Surrey, England, it was the headquarters of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps until the... |
| Defence Medical Services Training Centre Defence Medical Services Training Centre The Defence Medical Services Training Centre is based in Ash Vale, Surrey. It is the training centre of Defence Medical Services. It trains military personnel to deal with situations that civilian paramedics would be involved with; more advanced than first aid.-History:It was known as the Royal... |
Keogh Barracks | Royal Army Medical Corps Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace... |
To close 2010 |
| AGC Training Group | Worthy Down Barracks | Adjutant General's Corps Adjutant General's Corps The Adjutant General's Corps is a corps in the British Army responsible for many of its general administrative services. As of 2002, the AGC had a staff of 7,000 people... |
HQ AGC |
| Defence College of Policing and Guarding | Southwick Park | Royal Military Police Royal Military Police The Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as... |
Joint Service |
| Royal Military School of Music Royal Military School of Music The Royal Military School of Music in Twickenham, west London, trains musicians for the British Army's twenty-nine bands. It is part of the Corps of Army Music... |
Kneller Hall Kneller Hall Kneller Hall is a stately home in the Twickenham area of west London, and takes its name from Sir Godfrey Kneller, court painter to British monarchs from Charles II to George I... |
Corps of Army Music Corps of Army Music The Corps of Army Music is a corps of the British Army. It was formed in 1994 as an umbrella organisation, centred on the Royal Military School of Music, to oversee the 29 new permanent Military Bands formed following Options for Change, although each band continues to wear the capbadges and Full... |
HQ CAM |
| Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Defence Intelligence and Security Centre is the location of the Headquarters of both the Defence College of Intelligence and the British Army Intelligence Corps... |
Chicksands | Intelligence Corps | HQ Int Corps |
Infantry Training Centre
As of 2001, infantry training is undertaken as a single 26 week course (28 weeks for the parachute regiment, or any of the five guards regiments) at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick GarrisonCatterick Garrison
Catterick Garrison is a major Army base located in Northern England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world with a population of around 12,000, plus a large temporary population of soldiers, and is larger than its older neighbour...
, as opposed to being divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2 training. The ITC is divided into four separate battalions; these are divided into companies, each of which are responsible for one of the infantry's administrative divisions:
- 1st Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
- Queen's Division Company
- King's Division Company
- Light Division Company
- 2nd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
- Scottish Division Company
- Prince of Wales's Division Company
- Somme Company
- 3rd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
- Guards Division Company
- Parachute Regiment Company
- Gurkha Company
- Gurkha Language Wing
- 4th Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
- HQ Company
- Williams Company
- Hook Company
- Army School of Ceremonial
- Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drums
- Gym EL Wing
Officer Training
- Officers: Prospective officers first attend the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) to determine whether they are suited to become officers. Once they pass the (AOSB), they attend the Royal Military Academy SandhurstRoyal Military Academy SandhurstThe Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, where they undergo basic training, not just in the elements of soldiering, but also leadership. The Commissioning Course, which is the standard course for new regular officers, lasts 44 weeks. However, there are also short courses for those with professional qualifications (in Medicine, Law or Clergy) that provide basic military training.
Soldiers
For TA soldiers, recruit training is structured into two phases: Phase 1, also known as the Common Military Syllabus (Recruit) (CMS(R)) Course, and Phase 2, specialist training.Phase 1
In Phase 1, recruits cover the Trained Soldier Course (TAC) part A (this replaced CMS(R)in 2009) in a series of 6 training weekends at Regional Training Centre
Regional Training Centre
Regional Training Centres were created from the previously existing Specialist Training Teams to provide training for the United Kingdom Territorial Army...
s (RTCs). For non-infantry units, TSC concludes with a two week training course (TSC Part B) normally held at an Army Training Regiment, whilst infantry recruits have an extra 3 weekends and then go directly to their Phase 2 Training at Catterick. Recruits to the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
The 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment is a Territorial Army unit of the British Army. It is based across the U.K. Originally the Battalion covered the North of England with its Headquarters located in Pudsey, West Yorkshire...
and the Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
complete their equivalent of CMS(R) within their own units.
Phase 2
Phase 1 is followed by Phase 2, a further period of specialist training specific to the type of unit the recruit is joining. This is normally conducted by the Arm or Service that the recruit is joining, for example for infantry units, Phase 2 consists of the two week Combat Infantryman's Course (TA) (CIC (TA)) held at the Infantry Training Centre
Infantry Training Centre
The Infantry Training Centre is a unit of the British Army administered by HQ School of Infantry responsible for both basic and advanced training of Soldiers and Officers joining the infantry...
, Catterick
Catterick Garrison
Catterick Garrison is a major Army base located in Northern England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world with a population of around 12,000, plus a large temporary population of soldiers, and is larger than its older neighbour...
.
Officers
To gain a commission, Potential Officers have to pass through four modules of training, which together form the Territorial Army Commissioning Course (TACC).Module 1 is the same as the Common Military Syllabus (Recruit) course. As many Officers initially serve a period of time as Soldiers, this module is only undertaken by the minority that join the TA directly as Potential Officers under the Direct Entry TA Potential Officer (DETAPO) system.
Module 2 covers training in Tactics, Leadership, Doctrine and Navigation, both in theory and in practice, and a further series of selection and aptitude
Aptitude
An aptitude is an innate component of a competency to do a certain kind of work at a certain level. Aptitudes may be physical or mental...
tests are undertaken, usually spread over 10 weekends. This also includes passing The Army Officer Selection Board Briefing and Main Board, after which Potential Officers are formally designated as Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
s.
Module 3 applies the theory taught in Module 2 into a 9 day Battle Camp. Modules 1 to 3 are run by Regional Training Centre
Regional Training Centre
Regional Training Centres were created from the previously existing Specialist Training Teams to provide training for the United Kingdom Territorial Army...
s around the UK.
Module 4. Passing the AOSB and Module 3 then enables Officer Cadets to attend an intensive three week Assessment at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, which forms Module 4.
On successful completion of Module 4, the Officer Cadets receive their Commission and become Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
s. Further training that is required prior to them being considered for operational deployment and promotion to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
includes:
Post Commissioning Training (formerly known as Module 5), again run at an RTC, over 3 weekends.
Special To Arm training is specific to the type of unit the Subaltern is joining, for example, the 2 week Platoon Commander's
Platoon leader
A platoon leader or platoon commander is the officer in command of a platoon. This person is usually a junior officer — a second or first lieutenant, or an equivalent rank. The officer is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant...
Battle Course held at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
.