Armed forces operational officer : Training

All three armed services provide initial officer training followed by specialist professional or technical training.

If you are successful at Army selection board, you will go on to the officer training course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst , which lasts for 11 months and includes physical training, military training and exercises, adventurous training and participation in a wide range of sporting activities. Academically, you will be taught about army organisation, defence issues, current affairs and management skills.

A similar pathway is followed by graduate officer recruits to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force (RAF) , who enter the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth or the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell , respectively. Officers of the Royal Marines train alongside all other recruits to the Marines. Before receiving a commission, you must successfully complete both commando and young officer training.

You will attend further training courses where your knowledge and skills are extended. Continuing professional development (CPD) is a feature of a forces career.

The modern officer career structure has three stages to cover the variety of challenges met in an army career: education, training and CPD. Each of these involves short residential courses, employment training, distance learning and the acquisition of new skills.

Some officers, after several years' experience, will be selected to attend extended command and staff training courses at the Joint Services Command and Staff College , part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham, in preparation for senior and top management appointments.