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Officer Career Timeline

Royal Signals Officer outside Buckingham Palace

This timeline offers a rough guide to where you might expect to be at key points in your career with the Royal Signals.  Timings will vary depending on whether you join as a graduate or not, and your performance as you progress.

CAREER TIMELINE (years served):

44 Week Commissioning Course: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.


















0 - 6 months Second Lieutenant: Attachment to a unit to learn about the Royal Signals.








6 - 12 months Second Lieutenant: Troop Commanders' Course.









12 - 36 months Lieutenant: Troop Commander of up to 50 men and women.








3 - 4 years Captain: Training Year. Overseas attachments, recruiting post or second tour Troop Commander. In-service degree (non-graduates).






4 - 6 years Captain: Squadron Second-in-Command or Squadron Operations Officer in a Regiment.








6 - 8 years Captain: Second-in-Command of an Independent Squadron, or Adjutant (in charge of manning and discipline with in a regiment). Some officers complete a Grade 3 Staff job at this point available in many different fields of work.

8+ years Major: On promotion to Major, all officers complete the 7-month Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land) (ILSC(L)) prior to taking up an initial Grade 2 staff appointment available in a number of fields including: technical, research, logistics, human resources, training and combat.