Engineer Troop Officer - Reserve

In terms of your ‘roles and responsibilities’ as an engineer officer, of course the managerial side of a project (which can be anything from an exercise, a construction task or an operation for a few examples) would be your primary focus.

I have been fortunate to have some really good engineer officers around me in my career and in particular my last post, which was at a fuels infrastructure team in Nottingham as part of 66 Works Group Royal Engineers. My officers would actively get involved in some of the ‘work’, not only to help spread the load but also to give them an understanding of the timings involved in specific activities. However, it is worth noting that this is not always the case and come may only manage.

I hope this helps. If you are more interested in the physical activity of carrying out engineer construction activities then you may be better suited to a role as a soldier within the Engineering space.

Anybody who has a good general level of fitness will be absolutely fine. Basic training is about taking you from being fit to being Army fit.

You don’t need to arrive as a finished athlete. If you’re reasonably active and willing to put the effort in, you’ll improve quickly with training and support.

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.