At a glance
- Officer
- combat
- engineering
- logistics
Use your first-class training to lead an armoured fighting vehicle troop – highly skilled soldiers who can drive anything from tanks to Jackals.
You'll need to think fast, communicate clearly and consider your soldiers' training and welfare. You'll lead a team of highly-trained soldiers and their vehicles – from the Challenger 2 tank to the Jackal reconnaissance vehicle. The Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst will develop your leadership and military skills, and the Troop Leaders' Course will teach you everything you need to know about your role. But in the British Army, the learning never stops. We’ll make sure that you’re always well prepared for the next challenge.
The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) provides the armour capability of the British Army. It combines speed, momentum, firepower and reconnaissance capabilities with armoured fighting vehicles, such as the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank and Jackal Fighting Vehicle.
Key Responsibilities
Focus on combat
Train on the Challenger 2 Tank or Jackal 2
Become a mounted manoeuvre and combat specialist
Enjoy a varied role with opportunities to travel
Take on responsibility and have autonomy of command
Have any questions? Talk with us
Reserve (part time)
Entry requirements
Age:
From 18 years & 0 months to 50 years & 11 months
Qualifications:
72 UCAS points and 35 ALIS points at GCSE, (including a minimum 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 8.07
Training for the role
Step 1
Your initial training will take place at your local regiment, where you’ll learn the basics of soldiering, before heading off to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to complete the three-week Reserve commissioning course.
Step 2
You’ll then go on to learn how to command either the Jackal 2 or the Challenger 2 Tank as well as developing your leadership and management skills through regular training and events. We’ll give you the same annual training tests as Regular officers – and the same opportunities to join in Adventurous Training and sport.
Qualifications you could get after training
The opportunity to work towards an undergraduate diploma in Leadership and Management or, for graduates, the opportunity to work towards a post-graduate diploma in Leadership and Management.
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.