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I'm thinking of applying to be an officer.

I have been looking at the army careers website and it says you need 2 A levels or the equivilent. I currently have a BTEC National certificate DD in engineering and am completing my NVQ lv 3 in mechanical engineering.

According to the website the qualifications I have are sufficient but I was just wondering are university graduates more likely to get into Sandhurst than people at my level?

Also another quickie; Do Officer trainees get to choose which regiment they want to be in or are they appointed to one?

Look forward to hearing ANY advice on becoming an officer.

Thanks

saswannabe wrote:I'm thinking of applying to be an officer.

I have been looking at the army careers website and it says you need 2 A levels or the equivilent. I currently have a BTEC National certificate DD in engineering and am completing my NVQ lv 3 in mechanical engineering.

According to the website the qualifications I have are sufficient but I was just wondering are university graduates more likely to get into Sandhurst than people at my level?

Pretty much, yes. 2 A levels is the absolute minimum, most Sandhurst entrants nowadays have a degree. You also get a better deal re: promotion & pay as a graduate. To be honest, I would strongly recommend university; you can join the OTC / TA if you want mil experience, and the extra maturity & better options on entering Sandhurst as a graduate make it by far the best officer route. Also: gurls.

Also another quickie; Do Officer trainees get to choose which regiment they want to be in or are they appointed to one?

You choose which regiments you want to be in, those regiments choose whether they want you based on your performace at Sandhurst, age, qualifications and so on. Commissions into regiments are offered end of 2nd term at Sandhurst.

Look forward to hearing ANY advice on becoming an officer.

Change your username, and don't mention that you want to go SAS until you have a lot more experience in the military, or people will assume you have read too many Chris Ryan books. Grey man, yes?

Pretty much, yes. 2 A levels is the absolute minimum, most Sandhurst entrants nowadays have a degree. You also get a better deal re: promotion & pay as a graduate. To be honest, I would strongly recommend university; you can join the OTC / TA if you want mil experience, and the extra maturity & better options on entering Sandhurst as a graduate make it by far the best officer route. Also: gurls.

I think that is good advice. The trouble is that if you don't have a degree it will catch up later with you in life... It is pretty much the norm in all walks of life these days.

Change your username, and don't mention that you want to go SAS until you have a lot more experience in the military, or people will assume you have read too many Chris Ryan books. Grey man, yes?

Even better advice!!

Thanks for the advice.

Can't seem to change my username... anyone know how?

The problem is I'm currently employed so going to university to study for a degree will mean quitting and being unemployed for a number of years.

I have the opportunity to study for a HNC/HND which is considered to be equivilant to a Degree. Will the Army still hold a preferance towards the university graduates?

I also have 3 years work experience and am trained and insured in firefighting, health and safty and first aid.

I would definately consider the TA! But I really want to know what are the chances of me being selected in my current sitiation?

Thanks

. . .

Emmerson, they can be changed, although only by the administrator if I remember correctly.

Oh right, didn't know that.

saswannabe wrote:Thanks for the advice.

Can't seem to change my username... anyone know how?

The problem is I'm currently employed so going to university to study for a degree will mean quitting and being unemployed for a number of years.

I have the opportunity to study for a HNC/HND which is considered to be equivilant to a Degree. Will the Army still hold a preferance towards the university graduates?

I also have 3 years work experience and am trained and insured in firefighting, health and safty and first aid.

I would definately consider the TA! But I really want to know what are the chances of me being selected in my current sitiation?

Thanks

You might want to talk to your local careers office they might be the best people to advise. In the meantime to change your username drop a PM to Beast (admin) who can sort it out.

I am at Sandhurst at the moment and it is true that most, but not all have degrees. Aside from soldier entrants only one guy I know has not got one and he does seem to lack in life experience at times. It is probably good advice to get one but it is by no means a necessity. In terms of selection it is set up so that things like that dont matter. If you have the attributes then you will get in.

. . .

I wouldn't say that I am lacking in life experience to be honest. I'm nearly 20 and have been living and working away from home since I was 17.

I know it is a bit different than the "uni" experience but I have had a chance to travel the country and work whilst studying.

I know that if I was to apply then I would probably have less theoretical knowledge than the uni grads. But I have an engineering background so I would be able to cope with all the mechanical and electrical kit the Army uses and possibly would have more hands on experience than most people fresh out of uni. Would this count for anything?

Also does the Army sponsor officers who want to study for a degree?

Thanks

saswannabe wrote:the "uni" experience

Getting pissed and generally living like a slob for 3 years. Sounds like great life experience to me

I would say you would get far better life experience out of university rather than in.

Ahh, the refreshing, non-sterotypical view of students. You have to love it.

Not quite true. If you want a good degree then you certainly don't live like a slob and get pissed for three years. It's actually hard graft and a worthwhile experience. I believe that a degree would stand you in good stead for any job as long as you have the accompanying qualities the job requires, I imagine it is very much the same for officer entry.

If you have the chance to go to uni, do it. The armed forces will still be there in three years.

Will