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Professionally Qualified Officers

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PQO's are amongst the most valuable people in the entire Army and - with special benefits and training - they are some of the most respected too. 

Army Medical Services (Professionally Qualified Officers)

The Army Medical Services (AMS) comprises the four medically orientated Corps of the British Army and is headed by a Major General (Director General Army Medical Services - DGAMS) who has the responsibility to promote medical, dental and veterinary health services for the Army and to provide a policy focus for medical training, doctrine and force development.  The four Corps comprising the AMS are:
  •  The Royal Army Medical Corps keeps the Army healthy, providing a range of treatments from first aid on the front line to care hospitals all over the world. The Corps commissions three types of Professionally Qualified Officer (PQO): Army Doctors, Pharmacy Officers and Physiotherapy Officers.
  •  The Royal Army Veterinary Corps are responsible for the health and welfare of all of the Army's animals that are used for ceremonial and operational duties.
  •   The Royal Army Dental Corps provide dental treatment to the Army ensuring soldiers are fit to deploy anywhere in the world.
  •   The Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps provides the Army with important nursing care for it sick and injured soldiers.

Army Legal Services

Army Legal Services (ALS) branch of the Adjutant Generals Corps deal with the areas of law that might affect the Army. It is an all officer branch and only recruits qualified lawyers.
 
ALS officers provide a wide variety of essential legal services. These include prosecution at Courts Martial, giving legal advice and the provision of training to officers in military law. They are also required to advise and train operational and international humanitarian law.
 
In order to join you will need to be a qualified barrister, solicitor or advocate having practised for one year. Your first year will be spent on probation, including time with an infantry battalion.


Royal Army Chaplains Department

Commissioned as Chaplains, Padres from the Royal Army Chaplains Department represent all denominations of the Christian faith as well as representation for most other religions. Padres look after the spiritual, moral and pastoral needs of Army personnel and their families, irrespective of religion or belief. They are non-combatant but often work on the front line.

All applicants must be ordained and have experience as a priest or minister in one of the recognised churches, and have permission to practise in the Army. If successful, candidates will undertake initial training which will last eight weeks.