INFANTRY OFFICER....COMMAND RESPECT

Are you versatile, resiliant,and physically fit?  Can you work under pressure and make the right decision when you are cold, wet and tired?  Can you use your initiative, are you self confident, have high standards of integrity, self motivated, courageous, display qualities of humour and humility....can you lead men?

To become an Infantry Officer you will be tested to the limit and you must have the mental toughness to carry on when your body is telling you to stop.  You will achieve things you never thought possible but the reward of leading your men will make all the effort worthwhile.  You must be able to command and lead men into difficult and dangerous situations.  You will train them and mould them into a cohesive fighting force and once you have earned their respect and trust they will follow you into battle.

"DEFEAT THE ENEMY THROUGH CLOSE COMBAT"

What separates the Infantry from the rest?  We are all about our soldiers.  Without them we are nothing.  If you are more interested in managing kit and equipment then you may want to look elsewhere.  The British Infantryman is one of the best equipped in the world and new equipment is constantly being developed. Without the well trained and motivated Infantryman it is all just extra weight in your rucksack!  It will be your job to make sure that when the time comes, the soldiers under your command are trained and equipped to do their job.

If you would like to know more about Infantry equipment on trial or in development then click here.

What information do I need? Click here to find out about joing the Army as an Officer.  It contains information on what qualifications you need and medical criteria.

Steps to becoming an Infantry Officer.

1.         Initial Contact    If you are at school of college you will have an Army Careers Advisor (ACA).  If you have not yet met him or her then get in touch with your local Army Careers Information Office (ACIO) or Armed Forces Careers Office (AFCO).  To find you nearest office, click here.  The ACA will guide you through the joining process.  There are also ACAs for universities and they can be contacted in the same way.  If youare already in full time employment then go direct to your local  ACIO of AFCO. 

2.         Select A Regiment    As an Officer you can join any Regiment regardless of where you are from.  The Regiments are diverse and all have their own distinct character drawn from centuries of history and tradition.  Once you embark on the road to joining you will have the opportunity to visit some of the Regiments to see if you like them and if they like you!  Click here to find out about your local regiment and all the 32 Regiments of the Infantry.

Regimental Headquartes will be able to give you information about joining and will arrange visits.  The final decision about which regiment you want to join will not be taken until to reach the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

4.       Regular Commissisons Board  The first hurdle.  You will vist the Regular Commissions Board (RCB) in Westbury, Wiltshire twice.  Once for a RCB Briefing which you are graded on and secondly for the RCB itself. All potential officers must complete the '4 Testing Days' before gaining a place at Sandhurst.  If you would like to know more about the RCB click here.

5.      The Commissioning Course   The Commissioning course at Sandhurst produces the best officers in any army around the world.  You will spend 44 weeks at the Academy, split into three 14 week terms.  You will be transformed froma civilian into a leader and given all the skills and kowledge you need as a young officer.  To find out more about the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst click here.