The Armed Forces training and development programmes provide a huge range of qualifications, skills and experiences that are sought-after in the workplace. Individuals that spend three years or longer with the Armed Forces are helped to develop talents and abilities that will support and develop their career and widen their career opportunities. 

For Officers, 2 GCE 'A' Levels (or equivalent), and 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) with English and Maths as mandatory subjects are required as necessary qualification. Other ranks need to pass a selection test.

The vast majority of defence staff have undergone training. Only about 10.8% (Naval Service), 11% (Army) and 8.6% (RAF) of personnel was untrained in May 2004. Untrained personnel refers to those new recruits who are undergoing training.

Source: MoD website – Equal Opportunities in the Armed Forces 2004 (current information is available on the MoD website) 

With a staff of about 12,000, the Army Training & Recruiting Agency is responsible for recruitment and training. They conduct almost 1,500 different types of courses, with over 6,000 actual courses run each year. An average 12,000 officers and soldiers is in training at any time.

The operations of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA) are divided into four functions: 

• recruiting (attracting, selecting and enlisting officer cadets and recruits)
• recruit training (initial training of recruits and officer cadets in military skills)
• specialist training (special to arm training, to prepare soldiers for their first appointment)
• career Training (continuation training and professional development)

Training of recruits:

• officer cadets and recruits are trained within the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Officer Cadets undertake a minimum of one year training, although most attend a further specialist course before actually commanding their first troop or platoon
• recruits undergo a 12-week course in basic skills at an Army Training Regiment. This basic skills course prepares them for specialist training
• young soldiers may be enlisted on a Junior Entry into either the Army Apprentice College, the Army Foundation College or on a School Leavers Scheme
• specialist training is conducted at 18 different schools with courses lasting from one to 18 months. Soldiers may undertake more than one course in preparation for their first appointment, particularly if they have to be trained to drive

Source: ATRA 2003

Click here for more information on careers in defence including links to the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and MoD Civilian careers.

Note:

The 'untrained strength' of Armed Forces personnel consists of the annual intake of new recruits, i.e. it represents those new recruits actually passing through the training system, being trained at the time.

Source: DASA National Statistics website 2004. DASA (Tri-Service) 1 May 2004, TSP03. Figures exclude: Trained personnel in the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service, full time & part time), Army Reservists RAF Reservists, Gibraltar Permanent Cadre and Naval Activated Reservists.

The Ministry of Defence participates in the Civil Service Fast Stream Development Programme for graduates.

Click here for more information on the Fast Stream Development Programme.

Specialist Graduate Recruitment Programmes exist for:

• the Defence Engineering and Science Group
•  the Government Communication Network (GCN)
  

Click here for the Civil Service Recruitment gateway.

The Defence Academy was founded in 2002 and aims to be a national and international centre of excellence, providing civilian and military personnel with a high-quality education, primarily at post-graduate level, and conducting research in fields related to defence. It has brought together the following organisations:

• Royal College of Defences Studies (RCDS)
• Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC)
• Royal Military College of Science (RMCS)
• Defence Leadership Centre (DLC)
• Conflict Studies Research Centre (CSRC)
• Defence School of Finance and Management (DSFM)
• Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC)
• Welbeck College (Welbeck)

Click here for more information on the Defence Academy.

• Providing new recruits without basic skills qualifications and the opportunity to improve their qualification level.
• Deploying Fleet Education Officers at sea from 2003 to help onboard opportunities for learning and providing in-service degrees for Warfare and Supply officers and Artificers.
• Extending the Army’s Learning Centre network so that members of the Defence Community have greater access to learning facilities than now.
• Using the RAF’s multi-skilling initiative to provide personnel with recognised civilian qualifications.

Source: MoD 2003c