Military Training

Having received basic (Phase 1) training at one of the Army Training Regiments across the country and chosen their specialist Army “trade,” a Soldier opting for an armoured or armoured reconnaissance trade will enrol at the Armour Centre for Phase 2 Training as a RAC Crewman on Armoured Fighting Vehicles. Following successful completion of this 3 – 6 month course they will take up positions at their Regiment.

Junior officers who have completed their Phase 1 training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst will join for Phase 2 training on the Troop Leaders Course which lasts for approximately 5 months.

The Armour Centre also provides Phase 3 (Career) training on Armoured Fighting Vehicles to Soldiers and Officers who have already joined their Regiments. In addition to students from the Royal Armoured Corps, training on their own particular types of armoured vehicle is also given to the Infantry, Royal Engineers, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Royal Artillery, in limited numbers to the Royal Logistic Corps and to all other users of AFVs. Accommodation, classroom space and access to the All Weather Circuit is also provided to the Royal Marines for AFV training.

Command, Leadership and Management (CLM) training for RAC soldiers is delivered centrally in Bovington at the Leadership Wing.

Phase 2 Training

During their time at the Armour Centre training as RAC Crewmen, Phase 2 Soldiers will complete the following courses:

  • Induction module
  • Part 1 Signals (or BOWMAN VHF Operator)
  • Category B Theory (Car licence)
  • Category B Licence acquisition

Then a further trade course which will be one of the following:

  • Crew Driver Challenger 2
  • Crew Gunner Challenger 2
  • Crew Driver CVR(T)

Phase 2 Officers will complete a Troop Leaders programme.

Phase 3 Training

Phase 3 Training is delivered to soldiers who have already joined their Regiments, who require Career Development courses in areas of operation required by the Field Army.

See a list of all courses run annually at the Armour Centre.

The Leadership Wing

Command, Leadership and Management (CLM) training for RAC soldiers is delivered centrally in Bovington at the Leadership Wing.

The Leadership Wing was established in December 2003 and formally opened on 13 April 2004 as a direct result of an intensive army-wide study over a 2 year period into the formal educative training of soldiers. The review recommended a new concept and framework for Command, Leadership and Management (CLM), education and training for Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCO), Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO) and Warrant Officers (WO) to be introduced in 2004.

Each Arms and Service Directorate is responsible for delivering the majority of the JNCO training package and those elements of the SNCO and WO modules that are most appropriately delivered by them.

The remainder of the training is delivered through Army Education Centres.

Where possible, Arms and Service Directorates integrated the new training into already existing command or trade courses.
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