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Armed forces logistics/support officer

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Logistics/support officers are responsible for the movement and supply of people, transport and equipment

As a logistics/support officer, your role is to keep the armed forces operating efficiently by ensuring that they have the support, equipment and resources needed to perform their jobs safely and effectively. You can be involved in some or all of the following:

  • stores and supplies
  • human resources/personnel, training and development, pay and benefits
  • IT and information management
  • administration and secretarial
  • infrastructure and project management
  • accountancy
  • security.

You will ensure the supply chain remains intact and that personnel are properly fed, paid, trained and equipped wherever they are in the world. Supplies can include clothing, ammunition, fuel, spare parts and tools, food and water.

Types of logistics/support officers in the armed forces

Job titles and roles vary slightly depending on the branch of the armed forces you work in:

Responsibilities

You will be in a command position and provide essential logistical support during peacetime, deployment, war, disaster relief and recovery.

If your role is focused on logistics, you'll manage elements of the whole supply chain. Alternatively, you may be involved in a broader support role, including HR, administration, finance, and staff welfare and support.

As an armed forces logistics/support officer, you'll typically need to:

  • assess supply priorities, plans and maintenance routines
  • source, purchase and store supplies such as food, equipment and fuel
  • plan, manage and organise the distribution of supplies worldwide so they are available when and where they are needed
  • manage resources to achieve complex tasks within budget
  • liaise with local governments overseas to source supplies
  • investigate and resolve the causes of any supply chain issues
  • manage IT systems and administration that relate to logistics
  • write reports for senior management and headquarters
  • organise support and supplies for humanitarian relief operations
  • undertake security and patrol duties.

Alternatively, your role may focus on providing personnel support such as:

  • overseeing HR, finance, career management and staff welfare support
  • coordinating payroll so that all servicemen and women are paid
  • managing personal and medical administration
  • ensuring that staff are motivated and trained to high standards
  • supervising administrative routines including records, budgets, inventories and accounts
  • managing media relations, liaising with journalists both in the UK and overseas
  • registering prisoners and/or refugees
  • registering and notifying of death and injury.

In some roles, for example as an army Royal Logistics Corps officer, you may specialise in a particular area of logistics, such as ammunitions, contracts or petroleum.

Salary

  • The starting salary for officer cadets in all three armed services is £31,305.
  • After successful completion of initial officer training, salaries increase to £37,425 across all armed forces.
  • Salaries are rank-related, and you can earn more by progressing through the various ranks and seniorities.

The armed forces also offer benefits such as six weeks' paid holiday every year, an excellent pension scheme, free health and dental care, and subsidised travel, food and accommodation.

Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Depending on your role, you may need to work shifts. When on operations, officers can work long hours in a challenging and often stressful and dangerous environment.

It may be possible to work part time temporarily and/or restrict your separation from your home base (from three months to three years) under the armed forces' Flexible Service arrangement.

What to expect

  • A logistics/support role is mainly office based. However, all armed forces officers are required to remain physically fit for exercises and active service in the field.
  • You'll work in UK bases and stations where security restrictions operate, but there's also the possibility of prolonged periods abroad on overseas bases and on exercises and operations all over the world (both on land and onboard navy vessels).
  • The armed services are equal opportunities employers and promote equality, diversity and inclusion. All posts are equally open to men and women.
  • Expect to rotate jobs and relocate every two to three years. The extent of relocation, travel and family separation will depend upon the service and posting, but support services and social and recreational facilities are good.
  • As a logistics/support officer you'll be given a lot of responsibility early in your career. This will include management responsibility but also a considerable extension of your professional experience in a specialist field. The work is interesting and varied but can be difficult, challenging and dangerous at times.

Qualifications

All three armed services recruit graduates as officers and provide initial officer training and a continuation of technical and professional training. However, you don't need a degree for all roles. Graduates in any subject are considered for the role of logistics/support officer as suitability for service life is more important than your degree subject.

To join the army as a Royal Logistics Corps officer or Staff and Personnel Support (SPS) Branch officer, you must have 72 UCAS points from at least two A-level passes (or four Scottish Highers) and 35 ALIS points at GCSE (34 for SCEs) from seven GCSE/SCE subjects (including Grade C/4-5 in English, maths and a science or a foreign language).

To join the Royal Air Force as a logistics officer or people operations officer, you must have five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above (including English language and maths) or the Scottish equivalent. You'll also need at least two A-levels/three Highers at Grade C or above, which must total at least 64 UCAS points. If you have a 2:2 or higher undergraduate degree, you only need maths and English language at GCSE grade C/4-5 or the Scottish equivalent.

To join the Royal Navy as a logistics officer in the surface fleet, you need a minimum of 72 UCAS points, accrued from either A/AS-levels or National Diplomas such as a BTEC. You'll also need at least five GCSEs at grades C/4 or above (or the Scottish equivalent), including English language and maths.

To join the Royal Auxiliary fleet, you will need a level 6 degree (a logistics or business degree is useful) and GCSE Grade C or 4 in English language and maths (or the Scottish equivalent).

Generally, you must be a UK, Commonwealth or Irish citizen and have been resident in the UK or Ireland for five years prior to entry to the armed forces. However, requirements vary slightly between the different branches and roles, so you should check before applying. Age limits also apply.

All three services offer student bursaries or sponsorship, but amounts vary according to the subject you are studying and the needs of the service. University Service Units also pay students who join and take part in activities.

The selection process varies for each service, and high standards are required at the selection board and throughout basic training. Whichever service you apply to join, selection is likely to include:

  • an application form
  • an initial interview to find out if a life in the armed services would suit you
  • medical assessment
  • aptitude tests
  • fitness test
  • an interview/selection board.

At the interview/selection board, recruiters will be assessing your leadership potential and motivation, as well as your teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills.

Make sure that you have researched the branch of the armed forces you are applying to and understand which part you want to work in. You must also be aware of current affairs, particularly in relation to defence and society.

Check individual armed forces websites for further details on applying and entry requirements. Information is also available from university liaison officers (ULOs) and local armed forces careers offices.

Skills

You'll need to have:

  • excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • the ability to lead and motivate
  • the ability to work effectively as a member of a team
  • an enquiring mind
  • problem-solving and analytical skills
  • the ability to remain calm under pressure
  • the confidence to make decisions in high-pressure and sometimes dangerous situations
  • excellent organisation and administration skills
  • self-motivation and flexibility
  • the ability to learn quickly
  • attention to detail
  • the ability to work on multiple tasks at the same time
  • a sense of adventure
  • a good level of physical and mental fitness.

For most branches of the armed forces, there are also medical and eyesight requirements.

Work experience

Pre-entry work experience is not needed, but some training can be helpful with cadet and/or reserve forces, as well as:

It's also possible to do a 12-month army officer internship through the Army Internship Programme. You can do this either during or after university.

University Liaison Officers (ULOs) can give you up-to-date information, and offer advice on vacation training, cadetships and familiarisation visits.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

There are three employers within the armed forces:

The British Armed Forces are managed by the Defence Council of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The purposes of each service are the same:

  • to protect the United Kingdom and its dependent territories
  • to fight the nation's enemies
  • to prevent conflict
  • to deliver emergency humanitarian relief.

Much of the time, the armed forces achieve these aims through membership of alliances, particularly the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). However, unilateral responsibilities may mean that they act alone at times and therefore need to be equipped and trained for all aspects of modern warfare.

The UK's membership of the United Nations (UN), and its permanent place on the Security Council, may also call for the use of armed force in defence of international security or in support of humanitarian and peacekeeping initiatives.

In addition, the forces have an important diplomatic function in representing Britain overseas with goodwill visits, and in providing training for other countries' armed forces, both in the UK and abroad.

An officer's appointment in one of the services of the armed forces might involve working with the other services, the UN or NATO. Officers might also work at MoD headquarters.

Look for job vacancies at:

You can also enquire at local armed forces recruitment offices or with ULOs for opportunities.

Professional development

All three armed services provide initial officer training (IOT) followed by specialist, professional or technical training.

Army officers begin with a commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, which lasts 44 weeks. You will then attend a 19-week Royal Logistics Corps Troop Commanders' course. This specialist training course teaches you about military logistics and prepares you for your first command role. If you've chosen the SPS officer path, you will take the 11-week Detachment Commanders' course as your specialist training.

In the RAF, IOT lasts 24 weeks and takes place at RAF College Cranwell, Lincolnshire. This training is designed to develop your leadership and academic skills, as well as your fitness. This is followed by specialist logistics officer training (LOT) at MOD Worthy Down, Winchester. You will study various areas such as supply chain management, transport and fuels management, catering and mobility, as well as personnel, change and contract management. If you've chosen the people operations officer path, you will take the People Operations Foundation Course for Officers (POFCO) as your specialist training.

In the Royal Navy, IOT lasts 30 weeks and takes place at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth. Following initial officer training, you will begin your specialist logistics management training. This is followed by 32 weeks of specialist training, focusing on areas such as supply chain management, personnel administration, accounting, catering and law.

Continuing professional development (CPD) and training are features of a service career and provide opportunities to gain relevant degree and postgraduate degree qualifications and professional accreditation with civilian professional bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Institute of Leadership and Management, Chartered Management Institute, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Career prospects

There are great opportunities for advancement as a logistics/support officer in the armed forces. You'll have a high level of responsibility early on in your career and will have the opportunity to continue developing your skills throughout your time in the armed forces.

As a logistics officer in the army, you will start your career as a Royal Logistics Corps troop commander using your movement and distribution expertise to provide fuel, supplies and ammunition. You will develop your strategic planning and decision-making skills as your career progresses and can choose to specialise in a particular area such as ammunition, contracts or petroleum.

In the RAF, you will typically start your career as a flight commander on a flying station with responsibility for up to 120 personnel, or as a station adjutant if you have trained as a people operations officer. There are opportunities for promotion to flight lieutenant, squadron leader and then more senior roles.

In the navy, your first promotion will be to lieutenant and then lieutenant commander.

For all armed services, further promotion is typically into increasingly senior staff posts. Advancement involves increased responsibility and may lead to a command and staff training course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham, as preparation for a senior command or managerial appointment.

It's usual, as your career as an officer progresses, to attain academic qualifications and professional accreditation.

There are opportunities to work in logistics, HR, management or consultancy in other sectors upon retirement from the armed forces due to the management and professional training and experience you gain during your period of service.

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