 | Parts of this article (those related to Basic Training) need to be updated. The reason given is: According to army.mod.uk and BFBS the British Army soldier (other rank) training was overhauled in 2024 and replaced with the "Soldier Academy" syllabus.(January 2025) |
Selection and training in the British Army is the process by which candidates for service are identified, inducted and brought onto the trained strength. The process is the responsibility of the Home Command.
 | This Section is missing information about Selection Boards see Army Officer Selection Board for Officers and Assessment Centre for Soldiers.(January 2025) |
Candidates for all three of the British Armed Forces are first handled through Armed Forces Career Offices, which are located in major conurbations around the United Kingdom supporting the respective recruitment functions. Candidates for enlistment may be aged between 15 years, 7 months (for enlistment from age 16) and 32. [1] Candidates for officer entry may be aged between 18 and 29. [1]
Candidates for the Army undergo common training, beginning with initial military training, to bring all personnel to a similar standard in basic military skills, and further specialist training is delivered according to the Regiment or Corps for which the individual has been identified as a candidate. Completion of Initial Trade Training (ITT) brings the individual onto the trained strength; however, each of the British Armed Forces will continue to deliver specialist and generalist training throughout the individual's career.
Much training in the British Armed Forces has been accredited by various awarding bodies, resulting in the opportunity to gain civilian qualifications through service training activities.
Basic Training, which is often referred to as Phase 1 training, follows a standard syllabus for all new recruits. For other ranks, this is the Common Military Syllabus (Recruits) (CMSR). CMSR covers the skills and fitness needed to survive and operate in a field environment, and seeks to imbue the ethos and principles of the British Army. The trainee is required to demonstrate competence in thirteen training objectives over the fourteen-week course. Officers undertake the Commissioning Course, which covers the basic aspects of soldiering as well as command, leadership and management. The standard course for new Direct Entry Officers lasts 44 weeks. Professionally qualified officers (those that have joined the army having already gained a professional qualification, such as doctors, lawyers or chaplains) undergo a shorter, ten-week course. [2] The Late Entry Officers Course is a four-week course for already serving soldiers that have been chosen for commissioning as officers. [3]
There are five training establishments for Basic Training in the Regular Army:
| Title | Name | Course length | Attendees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | |||
| Royal Military Academy Sandhurst | Sandhurst | 44 wk | All Arms Direct Entry Officers |
| 10 wk | Professionally Qualified Officers | ||
| 4 wk | Late Entry Officers | ||
| Other Ranks | |||
| Army Foundation College | Harrogate | 49 wk | (ages 16–17½) |
| 23 wk | (ages 16–17½) for those joining courses with longer Initial Trade Training – these are: | ||
| Army Training Centre | Pirbright | 14 wk | |
| Army Training Regiment | Winchester | 14 wk | |
| Infantry Training Centre | Catterick | 30 wk | |
| Infantry Training Centre | Catterick | 26 wk | |
Basic Training is intended to bring all recruits to a base level of military competency, capable of operating in the field, providing force protection, operational security and displaying the other characteristics of a member of the British Army. For officers, this also includes the professional competencies required for command. During this period, recruits pass in and receive their regimental berets; they then pass out and continue to Initial Trade Training to undergo job training. The training embeds the core values:
The Initial Trade Training involves the new officer or soldier training for the branch of the service they wish to specialise in, and then undergoing specific training, now called Subsequent Trade Training (STT). This is with one of the specialist schools located around the country:
For Army Reserve soldiers, recruit training is in two parts: Basic Training (BT), also known as the Common Military Syllabus (Reserve) (CMS(R)) Course, and Initial Trade Training (ITT), special-to-arm training. [4]
Basic Training
ATR Grantham and the Army Training Units (ATUs) are the British Army's primary locations for providing the Army Reserve Phase One 'Foundation Weekend', which is designed to introduce recruits to basic military skills and life. [5] [6]
Reserve Recruits then complete the Mod 2 course of four training weekends over an 8-week period at their closest Army Training Unit (ATU). ATUs are staffed by Army Reserve Instructors. Alternatively, Army Reserve recruits can complete this part of the training in a single 7-day consolidated period, which is delivered at ATR Grantham by Regular Army Instructors. [5] [6]
Following completion of Mod 2 comes the 15.5-day residential Mod 3, which is held primarily at ATR Grantham, in which recruits are trained and assessed by Regular Army permanent staff. Recruits will also deploy into the field on two Field Training Exercises during this phase. [5] [6]
In between Mod 2 and Mod 3, recruits are expected to complete Distance Learning in a variety of subjects on the Defence Gateway, and the Physical Development Pathway. [5] [6]
Initial Trade Training (ITT)
ITT is a further period of special-to-arm training specific to the type of unit the recruit is joining. This is normally conducted by the Arm or Service that the recruit is joining, for example for infantry units, ITT consists of the two-week Combat Infantry Course (Reserve) (CIC (Res)) held at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. [7]
To gain a commission, potential officers have to pass through four modules of training, which together form the Army Reserve Commissioning Course.
Module A consists of basic field training and elementary military skills. This can be completed at either a University Officers Training Unit (UOTC) over a number of weekends, or over two weeks at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
Module B covers training in Tactics, Leadership, Doctrine and Navigation, both in theory and in practice, with a focus on the section battle drills and the platoon combat estimate. This training can either be spread over ten weekends at a UOTC, or two weeks at the RMAS.
Module C builds on the Tactics, Leadership, Doctrine and Navigation taught in Module B, with a greater focus on the theory behind these constructs. CBRN training is also added at this point, and Officer Cadets undergo a number of field exercises to test their military and leadership skills. Module C can only be undertaken at the RMAS.
Module D: once the Officer Cadet has completed their Army Officer Selection Board, they can complete this final module, after which they will become commissioned officers in the British Army. Based at the RMAS, this module consists primarily of a prolonged field exercise, followed by drill training in preparation for the passing out parade.
On successful completion of Module D, the Officer Cadets receive their Commission and become Second Lieutenants. Further training that is required prior to them being considered for operational deployment and promotion to Lieutenant includes:
Post Commissioning Training (formerly known as Module 5), again run at an OTC, over three weekends.
Special To Arm training is specific to the type of unit the subaltern is joining, and covers a two-week period. This is increasingly integrated with the tactics phase of a Regular training course. Examples are the Platoon Commander's Battle Course held at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, which is integrated with Regular training, or the Yeomanry Tactics Course held at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster, which is not.
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique demands of military employment.
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial officer training centre. It is located in the town of Sandhurst, Berkshire, though its ceremonial entrance is in Camberley, Surrey, southwest of London. The academy's stated aim is to be "the national centre of excellence for leadership". All British Army officers, including late-entry officers who were previously Warrant Officers, as well as other men and women from overseas, are trained at the academy. Sandhurst is the British Army equivalent of the Britannia Royal Naval College and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.
An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country. How OCS is run differs between countries and services. Typically, officer candidates have already attained post-secondary education, and sometimes a bachelor's degree, and undergo a short duration of training which focuses primarily on military skills and leadership. This is in contrast with a military academy which includes academic instruction leading to a bachelor's degree.
The Army Reserve is the active-duty volunteer reserve force of the British Army. It is separate from the Regular Reserve whose members are ex-Regular personnel who retain a statutory liability for service. The Army Reserve was known as the Territorial Force from 1908 to 1921, the Territorial Army (TA) from 1921 to 1967, the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) from 1967 to 1979, and again the Territorial Army (TA) from 1979 to 2014.
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors.
The University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC), also known as the Officers' Training Corps (OTC), are British Army training units, under the command of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, which recruit from universities. Their role is to allow university students the opportunity to undertake modules of Reserve Officer training designed to fit around their degree and to develop the leadership abilities, skills and experience of their members, which could be useful in a future career in the British Army, or skills and training that can be utilised in a civilian career. While in the UOTC, Officer Cadets will undertake the Reserve Officer Training Modules.
The Army Reserve (AR) is the reserve land component of the Irish Defence Forces. It is the second line reserve of the Irish Army. The Army Reserve involves active military service on a part-time basis, and is one of three elements of the Reserve Defence Forces, the other two being the First Line Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
Officer cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron; however, these are not trainee officers with many not choosing a career in the armed forces.
The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines." The Basic School is located in Stafford County, Virginia to the south-west of the Marine Corps Base Quantico complex. Each year, over 1,700 new officers are trained, representing such commissioning sources as the U.S. Naval Academy, Navy ROTC, Officer Candidates School, and newly appointed Marine Corps Warrant Officers, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy accession programs.
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School (OCS) is an officer training program that trains, assesses, and evaluates potential commissioned officers of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. Officer Candidates are former enlisted members, Warrant Officers, inter-service transfers, or civilian college graduates who have enlisted as an "09S" to attend OCS after they have completed Basic Combat Training (BCT).
The Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) is located at the Saint-Jean Garrison in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. It conducts basic training and professional development programs for officers and non-commissioned members, training more than 5000 people a year on-site.
An army training regiment (ATR) provides Basic Phase 1 Training for all elements of the British Army, except the infantry. There are currently four army training regiments.
British Army Reserve Training Locations include four Army Training Unit (ATU) sites and two other locations where the Army Reserve Phase One Training courses are delivered.
The Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) is a two-phased training course designed to commission officers and prepare them for service in the United States Army. Prospective officers complete Phase I as either a cadet or an officer candidate before continuing on to BOLC B as Second Lieutenants. If BOLC B is not completed within two years of commissioning, 2LTs will be administratively separated from the service unless there are extenuating circumstances. This a progressive model designed to produce US Army officers with leadership skills, small unit tactics and certain branch-specific capabilities.
The Educational and Training Services Branch form part of the Adjutant General's Corps and have done since 1992 when this Corps of the British Army was formed. Their remit is to continue the general education of soldiers and officers alike, as well as the military training of the soldiers of the Army.
Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) refers to both the basic training course, and the graduation qualification, received by non-commissioned recruits or reservists seeking entry to the Canadian Forces. The course is 9 weeks in length and conducted at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec for Regular Force recruits. For reservists the course is condensed to two months during the summer, or over the weekends during fall and winter and conducted at any military installation with the necessary resources.
The Initial Training Group of the British Army is responsible for the content and delivery of non-infantry Phase 1 training. The group's headquarters are at Pirbright, Surrey, commanding 4 Army Training Regiments, 5 Army Training Units, the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, the Army School of Physical Training, and the ARITC Staff Leadership School. It is part of the Army Recruiting and Training Command, who are responsible for all recruiting and training prior to becoming a fully qualified soldier or officer.
Royal Marines recruit training is the longest basic modern infantry training programme of any Commonwealth, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) combat troops. The Royal Marines are the only part of the British Armed Forces where officers and other ranks are trained at the same location, the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) at Lympstone, Devon. Much of the basic training is carried out on the rugged terrain of Dartmoor and Woodbury Common with a significant proportion taking place at night.
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
The Wales University Officers' Training Corps is an Army Reserve unit that recruits university students in Wales including at Cardiff University, Aberystwyth University, and Swansea University.
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