Life as an officer in the Royal Signals will never be dull, as the challenge it offers is second to none.  On commissioning into the Royal Signals you will be sent on a short attachment to a unit prior to your Troop Commanders' Course.  This is an excellent chance to find out more about the Royal Signals and its soldiers in a different environment to that which you will work as a Troop Commander. Following the 5 month long Troop Commanders Course you will be posted to your first unit where you may take command of a Troop of up to 50 highly skilled communications specialists and up to 20 communications vehicles. 

Troop Command.

Within your first tour as a Troop Commander you will be responsible for the soldiers in your troop; you will have to build on their individual strengths and talents and develop your soldiers to create a close-knit, smooth-running and hard working team whose priority is its mission.  There will also be plenty of opportunity to play sport, organise and participate in adventurous training, and enjoy the excellent social life of a young officer. 

Training Year.

On completion of their first tour, the young officer will be posted to a new unit for what is referred to as a 'Training Year'.  Postings range from training soldiers, recruiting, taking an attachment with an Infantry Battalion, a flying tour with the Army Air Corps, being detached to the Royal Artillery and Intelligence Corps.  For some, this second tour can be another Troop Commander post, but with much more responsibility in a unit with a different role, such as Special Forces Communications Officer; a Brigade Signal Squadron or with the Light Electronic Warfare Teams

Junior Captain.

From the rank of Captain the officer will most likely have gained operational experience, experienced a variety of different roles and responsibilities, and will have undoubtedly learnt some valuable lessons in leadership and command; their development thus far will be crucial for their next posts.  As Second-in-Command or Operations Officer of a Squadron, a whole new range of skills will be required and the levels of responsibility will again increase, but there will still be time to partake in sports, adventurous training and a healthy social life.  There will also be opportunities for specialisation and academic development; short modular courses appropriate to subsequent employment, such as satellite communications or electronic warfare, are available.