Sandhurst lowers entry requirements in order to boost officer recruitment

Potential officer candidates who failed the Army's selection process are now being given a second chance as the service looks to boost its numbers.

In an attempt to increase officer recruitment, the Army is now accepting people who did not pass the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) to enter Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

But this is not being seen as a positive move by everyone.

Colonel Hamish de-Bretton Gordon, a former member of the AOSB staff, told the Daily Mail how "for generations" British Army officers had been considered the best in the world.

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"Those generations have all had to pass AOSB," he said.

"In my time I gauged very few failed who should have passed and vice-versa. 

"Reducing standards, however excellent Sandhurst is, is a retrograde step to increase numbers."

He added: "MOD should focus on reducing the administration blockages that mean it takes ridiculously long for applicants to get there and review medical standards which exclude perfectly capable individuals."

The AOSB sees potential candidates undertake psychometric and written tests, as well as outdoor tasks and an interview.

It also sees recruits undertake a fitness test, a planning exercise as well as joint and individually led command tasks.

However, the Army insisted there had been "no change to the standard required to graduate from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and commission into the British Army". 

The Army also said the AOSB draws on decades' worth of experience in identifying candidates, with the revision to selection allowing staff to objectively assess applicants who may otherwise miss out.

"We recently reviewed our assessment methodology to include greater emphasis on a candidate’s capacity to develop while at Sandhurst, even if they had narrowly missed out on passing the Army Officer Selection Board under the previous criteria," an Army spokesperson said.

"This move helps us maximise the potential of all aspiring officers."

However, the Army did acknowledge recruitment was challenging at present.