Armed forces training and education officer: Job description

A training and education officer in the armed forces is a commissioned officer with management, educational and personnel duties, who is responsible for education and training support within one of the three armed services. Training and education officers are often responsible for specialist or technical training.

In addition to being a military officer whose role is to lead, motivate and manage, the work involves teaching and acting as a careers consultant and training adviser. Officers must also prepare their team, ensuring their readiness to fulfil their purposes in the armed forces, directing them when circumstances demand action, and using their skills and competence.

Typical work activities

Training and education officers are often located at education and training centres within military bases, or cover a geographical area. There will also be occasions when they will be required to fulfil field operational roles.

Tasks typically involve:

• analysing learning needs, both knowledge and skills;
• directing learners to appropriate courses;
• organising initial training for new entrants into the forces;
• designing, setting up and running training courses;
• instructing in subjects, including military studies, engineering and management, from the most basic level right through to technical and/or degree-level work;
• tutoring senior officers preparing for promotion;
• coordinating language training, perhaps including EFL (English as a Foreign Language) training for officers, and other ranks from the armed forces of other countries;
• carrying out the necessary administrative tasks associated with learning programmes for individual officers and other ranks;
• managing a team of experienced personnel;
• liaising with external providers, such as the Open University (OU)  and local technical and further education colleges;
• supporting the education and training of the families of staff.

In addition, in field operations, activities might include:

• media, civil liaison, community relations or transitional roles;
• delivering low-level language or cultural awareness training.