Armed forces training and education officer : Employers and vacancy sources

There are only four employers within the armed forces:

• Royal Navy
• Army
• Royal Air Force (RAF)
• Royal Marines

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:

• to defend the United Kingdom and its interests;
• to assist in keeping the peace around the world;
• to deliver emergency humanitarian relief.

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.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Royal Navy Careers
• Army Careers
• Royal Air Force Careers
• Armed forces university liaison officers (ULOs).
• Local armed forces recruitment offices.
• Professional journals.

Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.

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