Army Launches New Officer Internship

The British Army has launched a new officer internship, designed to develop leadership skills and offer an insight into life in the service. 

The scheme will be open to those aged between 17 years 9 months and 28.

Applicants must have a firm, or conditional in exceptional cases, place to study a first degree at a university or college, the Army said.

It is also open to those who have graduated within the last two years.

It will replace the Gap Year Commission from September 2021.

Successful candidates will take the Short Commission Course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), Berkshire, followed by service with a regular unit for between six and 18 months on Gap Year Commission terms of service.

This can be carried out before, during or after university.

Those enrolled on the officer training course will be paid and will take part in sports and adventurous and military training.

However, they will not be deployed on operations, according to the Army.

After completing the course there will be the opportunity to transfer to the Army Reserve or, having attended the Full Commissioning Course at RMAS, full-time service in the regular Army.

Applicants must apply before 31 December to be eligible for a place next September, the Army said.

Those applying must have or be predicted 72 UCAS points, as well as 35 ALIS points, including a C/4 or above in English language, maths and a science or foreign language. 

Figures published last month showed the Army has recorded its most successful recruitment year since 2014/2015, hitting 96% of its end of year recruitment target.

The service has been criticised for regularly failing to hit its recruitment targets in recent years.