At a glance
- Officer
- combat
Infantry Officers are dynamic, charismatic, and enthusiastic leaders who have the privilege to command the soldiers that make up the Army's most critical capability, often in the toughest and most demanding settings.
Imagine... You have a rifle platoon at your command. These highly skilled soldiers are trained to operate in all environments and all types of conflict. Your troops rely on you for leadership, guidance and support, on operations and exercises, wherever you are in the world. You are responsible for your troops’ morale, welfare and career development. On the front line, their lives are in your hands. If it sounds daunting, don’t worry: 15 months of intensive training will teach you everything you need to know.
Key Responsibilities
Command highly trained frontline soldiers as an Infantry Platoon Commander
Deploy around the world on everything from frontline operations to disaster relief missions
Serve in one of 19 Infantry Regiments. Each has its own unique history and identity
Get trained in Armoured, Airborne, Mechanised, Light Mechanised or Light Role tactics
Specialise as a Company Second-in-Command, Anti-Tank, Mortar, Reconnaissance, Intelligence or Communications Officer further down the line
Have any questions? Talk with us
Reserve (part time)
Entry requirements
Age:
From 17 years & 9 months to 48 years & 11 months
Qualifications:
72 UCAS points and 35 ALIS points at GCSE (including at least grade C/4 in English, Maths and a science or foreign language).
Basic physical fitness assessment:
Mid Thigh Pull 76kg
Medicine Ball Throw 3.1m
MSFT (beep test) level 8.06
Training for the role
Step 1
You’ll need to pass the Army Reserve Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Depending on your circumstances you can complete this in modules or in one go.
Step 2
You progress on to the two-week Platoon Commanders' Battle Course, which prepares you to take charge of your team. You also get the chance to do further study. Training is flexible, so you can fit it around your other commitments.
Qualifications you could get after training
Chartered Institute of Personnel Development
City and Guilds certificate in Human Resource Management
Postgraduate certificate in Human Resource Management
Core Combat Skills
Chartered Management Institute
Edexel/BTEC certificate in Management Studies
Pay & benefits
You'll get paid a day rate according to your rank, starting from £83.31 per day once you have passed Army Officer Selection and rising to £99.60 per day once you've commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. This includes being paid for weekly drill nights. Plus, if you complete all of your annual training, you're entitled to a tax-free lump sum called a bounty.
How to Apply
When you decide to apply, your local unit will help you through the process - you don't need to wait until you've finished Army Assessment to get involved.
To join, you have to apply online. The application process will take some time, but you can also ring the unit you're interested in joining - the team there will help often invite you to join them for drill nights, and you'll get support for your application.