Facilities

As the British Army’s training school in the core skills of armoured warfare, the Armour Centre offers facilities for training, living and improving military fitness.

The Centre is set within the beautiful Dorset coast on land which includes several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in an area designated as a World Heritage Site. It goes without saying that the balance between managing this beautiful environment whilst providing First Class training to the British Army on Armoured Fighting Vehicles is one that we take very seriously. Working closely with a host of expert environmental/heritage agencies and the Field Army we strive year on year to improve both the quality of our training and our rural environment. See articles in the MOD’s ‘Sanctuary’ magazine for examples of conservation work at Bovington/Lulworth and other sites.

Training Facilities

The 10,000 acres of training area owned by the Armour Centre include an 8km All Weather Driving Circuit, a 15km Cross Country Driving Circuit, various water crossings/wades and ascents/descents, a number of RE bridging sites/gap crossings, the testing “Knife Edge”, and extensive firing ranges capable of accommodating advanced troop fire and manoeuvre exercises. In short, enough to thoroughly test the skills and disciplines of all its students!

Demands on the estate are many and varied but the priority is always to ensure that the maximum amount of training area space is available at all times, enabling the Armour Centre to achieve its mission, (i.e. delivering trained drivers, commanders and instructors to the Field Army) whilst satisfying all relevant legislation (Health and Safety, Environmental etc.)

Living Facilities

The Armour Centre provides extensive catering and accommodation facilities for Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Soldiers.

Much of the living accommodation has been updated under the Army’s Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) Project and the work to improve facilities continues.

The Centre has a wide range of classroom and office facilities (over 100 classrooms at Bovington alone) including new state of the art e-classrooms and a number of conference facilities. Both sites have sports facilities, those at Bovington are more extensive including 14 tennis courts and a leisure complex incorporating a heated indoor swimming pool and fully-equipped fitness centre and gymnasium.

The Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS ) currently provide facilities on site which are open to Phase 2 and 3 Students which include internet terminals, pool tables, large screen digital TVs (plus DVDs!), and Play Station units.

Other Use of Facilities

The Armour Centre has various facilities both Land and Building which may be hired, subject to availability, for one off events of a larger nature e.g. Filming/Trials. For further information contact the Private Sector Liaison Team (PSLT).
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