WANTED: FUTURE OFFICERS

If you are over 15 and want to become a Regular Army officer, you could apply for either a Sixth Form Scholarship or a place at Welbeck, the Army's Sixth Form College. These scholarships gives financial support to students while they study for their A levels, and secures their place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst once they finish school or university.

WELBECK DEFENCE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

Welbeck, near Loughborough, is the MoD's very modern residential sixth form college that offers a two-year A level education combined with personal development and physical training. It is consistently ranked amongst the top sixth-form colleges in the league tables due to the very high standard of education and outstanding facilities. Students study three subjects; maths being compulsory, physics being highly recommended, the last chosen from 11 further subjects.

Annually the Army is allocated 100 places with a further 75 split between the Royal Navy, RAF and the civil service. After Welbeck, most students are sponsored to one of eight highly regarded universities on a generous technical bursary before joining the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to prepare for a career as a Regular officer in one of the Army's technical corps.

THE ARMY SIXTH FORM SCHOLARSHIP

The Army offers a Sixth Form Scholarship to talented students who have good Regular Army officer potential. Only 100 scholarships are awarded each year across the whole country so competition is tough.

You can apply before you are 16 years old, but the board will not consider your application until you are aged between 16 and 16 years 6 months, and have 46 ALIS points (43 in Scotland) from seven GCSE subjects. If you pass the officer selection process and are accepted, you will be paid £1500 a year in your final two years of school. You'll also be given a provisional place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst once you finish school or university.

The Welbeck and Sixth Form Scholarship Board assesses your suitability to hold an Army Scholarship. You are assessed against a common standard and your success is based entirely on your own performance.