Armed forces training and education officer job profile

Armed forces training and education officers provide learning and development opportunities for serving personnel

As an armed forces training and education officer, you'll be a commissioned military officer responsible for education and training support within one of the three armed services (Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force). You will support personnel across all ranks and will provide educational support in areas such as:

improving functional skills (e.g. critical thinking, communication, literacy, numeracy and problem solving)
continuing professional development
instructor development
learning operational languages
personal development
cultural awareness
developing and shaping future training.

You'll be expected to lead, motivate, manage, teach, mentor and act as a careers consultant and training adviser. As well as teaching, managing and personnel duties, you might be responsible for specialist or technical training.

You must also prepare your team, ensuring they are ready to fulfil their roles with the forces, directing them when circumstances demand action and use of their skills and competence.

Types of training and education 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 work with both regular and reserve personnel wherever they are in the world. You'll be based at education and training centres within military bases or will be tasked with covering a specific geographical area.

You may be occasionally required to fulfil field operational roles.

As an armed forces training and education officer, you will need to:

analyse learning needs, both knowledge and skills
direct learners to appropriate courses
organise initial training for new entrants into the forces
design, set up and run training courses
instruct in subjects, including military studies, engineering and management, from the most basic level right through to technical and/or degree level
tutor senior officers preparing for promotion
coordinate language training, including English as a foreign language (EFL) training for officers and other ranks from the armed forces of other countries
carry out the necessary administrative tasks associated with learning programmes for individual officers and other ranks
manage a team of experienced personnel
liaise with external providers, such as the Open University (OU), professional bodies and local technical and further education colleges
support the education and training of the families of staff
lead on shaping innovation in training.

If additional field operations are carried out, activities may include:

media, civil liaison, community relations or transitional roles
delivering low-level language or cultural awareness training.

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

You will typically work 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday when not on operations or exercises. However, you may have to work irregular and longer hours when away on operations. It may be necessary, in certain circumstances, to work more than 48 hours a week.

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

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).
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.
The armed services are equal opportunities employers and promote equality, diversity and inclusion. All posts are equally open to men and women.
In general, training and education officers work in offices and classrooms, but all armed forces officers are required to remain physically fit for exercises and active service in the field.
As an officer you'll be given a lot of responsibility early in your career. The work is interesting and varied but can be difficult, challenging and dangerous at times.

Qualifications

You will need an undergraduate degree in any subject to work as an educational and training services officer in the army, a training management officer in the Royal Navy or a personnel training officer in the Royal Air Force. A training or teaching background is also useful for the RAF. You'll also need to meet requirements for GCSEs, including English language and maths, and A-levels/Scottish Highers.

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
self-motivation and flexibility
an enquiring mind
problem-solving and analytical skills
the ability to remain calm and make key decisions under pressure
the ability to learn quickly
a good level of mental and physical 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:

British Army
RAF
Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines).

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 forces provide initial officer training (IOT) followed by specialist professional or technical training.

The IOT training you'll receive in the armed forces includes military, physical and academic training and is designed to build your leadership skills. You'll be taught about military organisation, defence issues, current affairs and management skills, and will develop skills in strategy, negotiation, communication and decision-making.

Army officers begin with a commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, which lasts 44 weeks. You will then attend specialist training to become a learning development officer. During this time, you'll start to study for a fully funded PGCE, PGDip or MSc education qualification. You will also learn the skills needed to deliver training and will continue to develop your leadership skills and fitness. You can also study for funded qualifications such as the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) and defence qualifications in culture, language and media.

In the Royal Navy, IOT lasts 30 weeks and takes place at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth. Following initial officer training in the Royal Navy, you will begin your specialist training management training. You will have the opportunity to gain a CIPD-accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Development and Training Management within six years, as well as funded postgraduate study for an MSc or MA in a range of training-related areas like leadership and management. You can also work towards ILM and/or CMI Level 5 qualifications in coaching and mentoring.

If you want to work with the Royal Marines, you'll have the opportunity to complete the All Arms Commando course.

In the RAF, IOT lasts 24 weeks and takes place at RAF College Cranwell, Lincolnshire. You will then spend eight weeks training at RAF Cosford to develop the essential professional training skills needed for your first tour. After that you can take further specialist training for roles such as force development instructor, parachute instructor and training analyst.

Continuing professional development (CPD) and training are features of a forces career, with opportunities to gain qualifications and professional accreditation with civilian professional bodies.

Career prospects

There are great opportunities for advancement as an education and training 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 whatever the role.

In the army, you will start your career as a learning development officer (LDO) or as a military instructor. You should expect to become the principal education adviser to the commanding officer or a unit. You will also complete the PGCE within the first 18 months in the role. There are opportunities to work in training schools, headquarters and policy directorates, as well as an officer tutor.

In the navy, there are opportunities to serve in the surface fleet, submarine service and in the Royal Marines as a commando. In the marines, for example, you will manage learning and development, as well as professional military education. As a training manager submariner, you would provide education and personal development opportunities on a submarine. Throughout your career, you'll have the opportunity to gain recognised academic qualifications, such as an MSc in training management and consultancy.

On your first tour in the RAF, you may work as a station training officer on an RAF training station. You will then undertake further training to take on more demanding assignments to help you develop your training consultancy skills, for roles such as training specialist adviser. There are also opportunities to train as a parachute jump instructor or to become involved in flying training development or training management.

For all armed services, further promotion is typically into increasingly senior staff posts. It's usual, as your career as an officer progresses, to attain academic qualifications and professional accreditation.

There are opportunities to work in training, 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.

Armed forces training and education officer