Armed forces training and education officer
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.
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:
In addition, in field operations, activities might include:
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.
The Royal Navy recruits Engineer (Training Management) Officers - E(TM)s - with degrees in mathematics, engineering or physics. A minimum of 180 UCAS points are required, and five GCSEs (A*-C), or Scottish Standard grades (1-3), or equivalent, including English and maths.
To become a Training Officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) graduates may have any degree. Professional qualifications will also be considered. Applicants need to have a minimum of three GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C, including English language and maths. The Army will also consider applicants from a wide range of degree subjects.
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is not a pre-requisite, but teacher training can be advantageous. Other pre-entry postgraduate qualifications are not generally needed, neither is pre-entry experience, but some training with cadet forces, University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) , University Royal Navy Units (URNUs) , University Air Squadrons (UAS) or the Territorial Army (TA) can be helpful.
You will be expected to demonstrate a range of aptitudes. Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
The Army will consider overseas applications. For further details, please refer to Army Careers . The Royal Navy and the RAF will consider applications form graduates with British, Irish, Commonwealth and British/dual citizenship. To apply to the RAF, graduates must have lived in the UK for at least three years before they apply to join.
For most branches of the armed forces, there are medical and eyesight requirements, and age limits. Physical fitness with good sight and colour perception is needed. University liaison officers (ULOs) can give you up-to-date information and also give advice on vacation training, cadetships, familiarisation visits, sponsorship and bursaries. Your careers service can give details of your nearest Army, Navy or Air Force ULO.
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 financial bursary per year. Your ULO will give you details of sponsorship.
Potential officers in the Royal Navy attend a two-day Admiralty Interview Board. This involves a formal interview and a discussion exercise. Applicants are also required to undertake a number of fitness and mental agility tasks, including verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills, concentration and spatial orientation. Applicants are also tested on their potential leadership skills. The Army and the RAF follow a similar process.
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All three armed forces recruit graduates as officers and provide initial officer training followed by specialist professional or technical training.
Army officers begin with a commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst , which lasts 44 weeks. In the Royal Navy, initial officer training is 28 weeks, taking place at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth . In the RAF, officers also begin with initial officer training, lasting 30 weeks and taking place at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell .
Initial officer training is designed to build leadership skills. All the programmes include military, physical and academic training. Officers are taught about military organisation, defence issues, current affairs and management skills, and learn strategic skills, such as negotiation, communication, decision-making and leadership.
Continuing professional development (CPD) and training are features of a forces career, with opportunities to gain qualifications and accreditation with civilian professional bodies. Following commissioning, Army officers attend an eight-week educational and training course. Those who do not already have a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in Further Education (PGCE), will be expected to qualify for this within two years of commission. Further opportunities to study are available, including postgraduate training for Masters degrees. Army officers are trained to be personal development advisers, qualifying for a Level 4 NVQ in guidance. They are also able to qualify as NVQ assessors.
Following initial officer training in the Royal Navy, Engineer (Training Management) Officers - E(TM)s - undergo four months' fleet training at sea, and also complete a four-week Engineer Training Manager Foundation Course. E(TM)s who choose to work with the Royal Marines have the opportunity to complete the All Arms Commando Course, and those who work with the Royal Navy Submarine Service undertake basic submarine training. Throughout their career, E(TM)s have the opportunity to gain recognised academic qualifications, such as a postgraduate certificate, diploma and an MSc in Training Management and Consultancy.
Some officers within all of the armed forces may also, after several years' experience, have the opportunity to attend extended command and staff training courses at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in preparation for senior and top management appointments.
After initial officer training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst , Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth or the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell , newly commissoned officers are posted to their chosen regiment or corps, to a ship for fleet training, or to a squadron or station. Once in place, they undertake specialist training to enable them to gain the detailed skills and particular knowledge that will be needed before assuming their first command.
Engineer (Training Management) Officers - E(TM)s - in the Royal Navy join at a more senior rank than other officers. Promotion to lieutenant is automatic, provided the officer passes the training and performs to an acceptable level. Following that, opportunities exist for promotion to lieutenant commander and beyond.
The Educational and Training Services Branch of the Army is within the Adjutant General's Corps (AGC) , which offers responsibility, variety, great opportunities and advancement.
The normal route in all three services is to achieve the command of your own unit at about the age of 40. Further promotion is usually into increasingly senior staff posts. As officers' careers progress, they receive highly regarded academic and professional accreditation.
Advancement involves increased responsibility and may lead to a command and staff training course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College as a preparation for a senior command or managerial appointment.
There are only four employers within the armed forces:
The British Armed Forces are managed by the Defence Council of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) , and are reported to be one of the largest militaries in Europe. The purposes of each of the services are the same:
Much of the time, the armed forces achieve these aims through membership of alliances, particularly the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) , but unilateral responsibilities (for example the Falklands conflict) may mean that they act alone and thus need to be equipped and trained for all aspects of modern warfare. Britain's membership of the United Nations (UN) and her permanent place at the Security Council may also necessitate the use of armed force in defence of international security or in support of humanitarian and peace-keeping initiatives.
Action may also be required in support of the civil power (as in Northern Ireland). In addition, the forces have an important diplomatic function in representing Britain overseas with goodwill visits and also providing training for other countries' armed forces, both in the UK and abroad. An officer's appointment in one of the armed forces services might involve working with the other services, the UN or NATO. Officers might also work at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence.
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