Selection and Training in the British Army

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There are two phases in the training for recruits into the army:

• Phase 1: the initial phase features the basic training for all new recruits. There are two main strands, one for officers and one for other ranks.
  • Officers: Prospective officers first attend the Regular Commissions Board to determine whether they are suited to become officers. Once they pass the RCB, they attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where they undergo basic training, not just in the elements of soldiering, but also leadership. The Commissioning Course, which is the standard course for new officers, lasts 44 weeks. However, there are also short course for those with professional qualifications joining one of the services (Medicine, Law etc) that provides basic military training.
  • Soldiers: Prospective ordinary soldiers (other than the infantry) attend either one of four Army Training Regiments or the Army Foundation College:
    • Army Foundation College, Harrogate
    • ATR Bassingbourn
    • ATR Lichfield
    • ATR Pirbright
    • ATR Winchester

  Here they undergo basic training, learning how to become soldiers. The basic course is the Army Development Course, which lasts for 20 weeks.

Once new recruits have passed their initial courses, either at RMAS or an ATR, then they move to Phase 2 Training.

• Phase 2: the second phase involves the new officer or soldier choosing which branch of the service they wish to specialise in, and then undergoing the specific training. This is with one of the specialist schools located around the country:
  • Infantry Training Centre (see below) - the ITC is responsible for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 infantry training for soldiers. Officers undergo their Phase 1 training at Sandhurst.
  • Armour Centre
  • Royal School of Artillery
  • School of Army Aviation
  • Royal School of Military Engineering
  • Royal School of Signals
  • Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training Group
  • Defence Logistic Support Training Group
  • Defence Medical Services Training Centre
  • AGC Training Group
  • Royal Military School of Music

[edit] Infantry Training Centre

As of 2001, infantry training is undertaken as a single 24 week course at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison, as opposed to being divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2 training. The ITC is divided into four separate battalions; these are divided into companies, each of which are responsible for one of the infantry's administrative divisions:

• 1st Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
  • Queen's Division Company
  • King's Division Company
  • Light Division Company
• 2nd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
  • Scottish Division Company
  • Prince of Wales's Division Company
  • Somme Company
• 3rd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
  • Guards Division Company
  • Parachute Regiment Company
  • Gurkha Company
  • Gurkha Language Wing
• 4th Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
  • HQ Company
  • Williams Company
  • Hook Company
  • Army School of Ceremonial
  • Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drums
  • Gym EL Wing