Becoming an armed forces operational officer | Salary, skills, requirements

Operational officers in the armed forces lead the combat units. You'll direct and operate technically advanced military systems on land, at sea and in the air, and command people in high-pressure situations, including combat and peacekeeping missions. You can work in one of the armed forces:

British Army
Royal Air Force (RAF)
Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines)

Your responsibilities cover the training, fitness, operational effectiveness and welfare of everyone in the unit, ensuring they are prepared, resilient and able to perform effectively in a range of environments.

Your primary responsibility during operations, which are often dangerous, fast-moving and unpredictable, is to command, lead and inspire personnel while making critical decisions under pressure.

Working as an armed forces operational officer

As an operational or combat officer in the armed forces, you'll need to:

lead, command and manage a team of trained personnel, often in challenging and high-risk environments
develop the skills of your team to a high level of competence and readiness for a variety of operational situations
take responsibility for the welfare, morale and motivation of your team members
communicate effectively with your unit, as well as with other military units, partner organisations and local communities, both orally and in writing, through briefings, operational reports and presentations
prepare or adapt operational strategies and plans in response to changing situations
allocate equipment, personnel and resources effectively to achieve objectives
ensure ships, aircraft, vehicles, weapons and other equipment are maintained and ready for use
train new recruits in basic skills, support ongoing development, and instruct personnel of other ranks to prepare them for progression and promotion
assess the effectiveness of training and make improvements where needed
identify and plan to meet new objectives and motivate others to achieve them
take responsibility for your own ongoing personal and professional development.

What salary do armed forces operational officers earn?

The starting salary for officer cadets in the Army and Royal Navy is £34,676. RAF officers earn £34,600 upon entry.
After successful completion of initial officer training, salaries increase to £41,456 in the Army and Royal Navy, and £50,000+ as fight lieutenant's in the RAF.
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, Forces Help to Buy assistance to purchase a property and subsidised travel, food and accommodation.

Figures are intended as a guide only.

What hours do you work in the armed forces?

When on operations, you'll be working in a challenging environment where long hours and difficult conditions are to be expected.

It may be possible to work part time temporarily and/or limit the amount of time you spend away from your home base under the armed forces' Flexible Service arrangement (typically for between three months and three years, subject to operational needs).

What qualifications do you need to enter the armed forces as an officer?

All three armed forces recruit graduates as officers and provide initial officer training, followed by ongoing technical, professional and leadership development.

Graduates of any subject are considered for operational or combat roles, as leadership qualities and your potential to succeed in service life are more important than your degree subject.

However, graduates in science or engineering are particularly welcome in operational or combat roles, especially in areas such as flying, weapons and artillery, the armoured brigade, and transport and logistics.

In general, all three forces will consider applicants for officer training with a minimum of 72 UCAS points (64 for the RAF) and five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (or Scottish equivalents), including maths and English language, although requirements may vary depending on the role and service.

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. There are also age and nationality requirements that differ depending on the role.

Each of the services offers 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 global issues that may affect military operations.

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.

What skills does an armed forces operational officer need?

You'll need to have:

excellent communication and interpersonal skills to give clear instructions, deliver briefings and build trust within your unit
strong leadership and the ability to motivate others in demanding and high-risk environments
teamwork and the ability to work effectively with others across units and in joint operations
problem-solving and decision-making skills under pressure in fast-moving and unpredictable situations
the ability to remain calm in high-pressure and challenging situations such as operations and training exercises
self-motivation, adaptability and resilience to cope with changing conditions and operational demands
a good level of physical and mental fitness to meet the demands of training and active service.

You'll need to pass medical and eyesight tests to join most armed forces roles.

Work experience for joining the armed forces

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.

Who are the armed forces 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
fight the nation's enemies
prevent conflict
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, they may also act independently when required, so they must be prepared and equipped for a range of modern military operations.

The UK's membership of the United Nations (UN), and its permanent place on the Security Council, may also involve supporting international security, humanitarian aid and peacekeeping missions.

In addition, the forces have an important diplomatic function, representing the UK overseas through joint exercises, training partnerships and international engagement, both in the UK and abroad.

An officer's role in one of the armed forces may involve working with other UK services, international allies such as NATO or the UN, or at Ministry of Defence (MoD) headquarters.

Look for job vacancies at:

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

You'll work on secure UK bases, but may also spend extended periods overseas on exercises and operations around the world, on land, in the air or at sea.

You can expect to change roles and relocate every two to three years. The level of travel and time away from home varies by role, but support and facilities are provided to help you manage this.

Professional development and career prospects

All three armed forces provide initial officer training (IOT), followed by specialist professional or technical training. IOT combines military, physical and academic training to develop your leadership skills, covering areas such as defence, strategy, communication and decision-making.

Army officers train at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, which lasts 44 weeks.
RAF officers spend 24 weeks in training at RAF College Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
Royal Navy officers train at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
If you want to be a Royal Marine, you will need to complete IOT at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone.

After completing IOT, you'll move on to specialist training before starting your first role, typically with a regiment, squadron, ship or station, where you'll continue developing your skills in a real operational setting.

You'll take on responsibility early in your career and can expect to progress through the ranks as your experience grows. Opportunities to specialise vary by service, including areas such as intelligence, communications, operations or warfare. With promotion, you'll manage larger teams, more complex operations and greater levels of responsibility.

Ongoing training and continuing professional development (CPD) are key parts of the role, with opportunities to gain qualifications and professional accreditation. Senior progression may include advanced command and staff training.

After leaving the armed forces, your leadership, management and specialist skills can lead to careers in areas such as management, consultancy or other professional roles.