Intelligence Officer - Reserve

All specialist roles in the Int Corps are open to both officers and soldiers. Essentially the key difference is if you want to be the management and direction behind the intelligence team (officer) or undertaking the intelligence work in itself (soldier).

Whether you choose to be an officer or a soldier, you’ll be part of the same Intelligence Corps team - working together to gather, analyse and act on critical information. Officers focus on leading teams and shaping how intelligence supports the mission, while soldiers specialise in delivering the intelligence itself. Both roles are hands-on, highly valued, and play a key part in helping the Army make informed decisions on operations.

Most Reservists train one evening a week and one or two weekends a month alongside their civilian job.

One week I could be map reading, one week I could be doing rifle training, another week we might have fitness.

Reservist training fits around your life, with regular sessions in the evenings and longer training on some weekends. You’ll build skills step by step, alongside people balancing jobs, study and family life.

From day one you’re trained, supported and developed - you’re never left to figure things out alone.

You’re very well supported. Instructors are there to guide you, and don't forget, you join alongside others who are just as new, so you learn and settle in as a team.

As an officer we have a duty to look after our soldiers, physically but also mentally. We sometimes have to make difficult decisions, even when they’re not easy.

You’re given responsibility early on, but it’s introduced gradually. From the start, you’re trusted to look after yourself, your kit and support your team, with clear guidance and support in place. As you grow in confidence and skills, that responsibility increases. You’re never left to manage things alone. You’re shown what to do, why it matters, and how it fits into the bigger picture.

I’ll usually have physical training in the morning, and for the rest of the day there can be lessons or tasks like servicing vehicles and weapons.

It’s a mix of both. You’ll spend time building your fitness, but just as much time learning new skills, from technical training to teamwork and leadership.