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Transferring from Combat Infantry to Intelligence.
Transferring from Combat Infantry to Intelligence.
Il be applying to Sandhurst next year. If accepted i intend to go in for a combat position initially. However ive been thinking that some time spent working in intelligence would be worthwhile with regard to post-army employment. My question is how strict is the structure of the army with regard to switching disciplines or roles? Would an officer with several years of experience in the infantry find it difficult to transfer to a position with intelligence?
Not 100% on this, but fairly sure the answer is yes. You are talking about joining not only a completely different regiment / corps but a completely different arm and trade. Bear in mind the vast majority of officers stay in the regiment they are commissioned into, and most of those who do move, do so into a regiment within the same arm: ie infantry to infantry, armour to armour, etc.
Also bear in mind that, as the recent death of 2nd Lt. Dyer in Iraq showed, most new officers get some kind of combat deployment nowadays, even with INT.
Also bear in mind that, as the recent death of 2nd Lt. Dyer in Iraq showed, most new officers get some kind of combat deployment nowadays, even with INT.
Intelligence is one of the arms that people do actually transfer into. They have a higher than normal proportion of late entry officers and also have lots of people who tranfer in later in their careers. I am not sure how easy it is though. I think that they find you rather than applying. They tend to look for someone with an area of expertise. That said it is certainly not impossible, and intelligence is certainly a growth area. You would just need a reason for them to want you rather than looking for something outside the army.
