Last updated 15:31, Friday, 27 June 2008

A TECHNICAL officer may be responsible, through his or her team, for the maintenance and serviceability of ships, aircraft and land vehicles, weapons systems and support equipment.

in the field: A British soldier neutralising mines during a training exercise. Technical officers would lead the team behind such projects

In battle, they have responsibility for keeping equipment, infrastructure and lines of communication operational.

An officer is first and foremost a leader and manager of a team of specialists. In addition the role will include investigating and solving problems. In the field, this could mean providing water supplies, building bridges or even setting up a refugee camp. In combat, it could be constructing a helicopter pad, destroying a bridge or clearing a minefield.

Activities will revolve around the command and management of a team of specialists, who will include tradesmen, technicians and fellow engineering and other professionals.

Typical activities include preparing new or modified operational strategies; allocating personnel and resources; keeping ships, aircraft, vehicles and other equipment, infrastructure and lines of communication operational; finding ‘best possible’ solutions quickly; training and developing staff; and taking responsibility for the discipline, welfare, morale and training of subordinates.

Salary and Conditions

THE starting salary in all three armed services is £21,880. Officer commissions are confirmed upon successful completion of initial officer training and, with increments for the possession of a degree, the salary increases to about £26,000.

Job rotation and relocation can be expected every two to three years.

Entry requirements

ALL three armed forces recruit graduates as technical officers and provide initial officer training and continuation of technical and professional training. The academic requirements for technical and engineering commissions vary:

• The Royal Navy and the RAF will consider applications from graduates with scientific or engineering degrees.
• In the Army, the first preference of the Royal Engineers is for graduates in civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
• The Royal Signals will consider graduates of any subject, although their first preferences include electrical engineering, computer science, software engineering and telecommunications.
• The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) offer a fully accredited route to Chartered Engineer status for all.

Candidates must have a degree in engineering – either mechanical, electrical, electronic, civil, aeronautical, or production – or in computer and software science, IT, mathematics or physics.

Graduates in science or engineering are also welcome in operational roles, particularly flying, weapons and artillery, the armoured brigade and transport or logistics.

If you have a technical higher education qualification other than a degree, you should seek advice from the university liaison officer (ULO) or local Armed Forces Careers Office.

You will be expected to demonstrate a range of qualities and aptitudes:

• communication skills
• the ability to investigate and solve situations and problems, think clearly and act decisively under pressure
• leadership ability
• a good health record.

All three services offer student bursaries or sponsorship, but amounts vary according to the subject you are studying and the needs of the service.

If you are considering the Army, the Army ULO will conduct an initial interview and decide whether to recommend you for a familiarisation visit.

If that goes well, the regiment or corps will support your application for the four-day army officer selection board (AOSB). That process consists of a series of individual and group tests of your physical, mental, intellectual and practical abilities.

The selection process takes up to a year and high standards are required throughout.

There are opportunities to serve for a short commission, to apply for pensionable commission of 18 years, or to be considered for a full career commission with its possibilities of high command. Part-time roles exist in the Royal Naval Reserve, the TA and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

Training

ACADEMICALLY, you will be taught about army organisation, defence issues, current affairs and management skills. A similar pathway is followed by graduate officer recruits at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, or the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell.