For the first time in eight years, The British Army has launched a new Officer recruitment campaign, ‘With Heart. With Mind’, to attract more recruits by showcasing the Army Officer as a highly-skilled career that offers leadership, challenge and the opportunity to do something that makes a difference.
Latest figures show a decline in the number of graduates and school leavers opting for a career as an Army Officer, with only 81 per cent of posts filled for the year 2014/2015. Furthermore, graduate recruitment into the Armed Forces has steadily fallen over the last decade and is now 27 per cent lower than in 2005. A recent survey among recruitment target audiences found that 46 per cent were not aware the Army is recruiting.
New research conducted by the Army has also found that three-quarters of University finalists were unaware of salary levels, fast promotions or the ability to gain professional qualifications available to graduates in the Army.
The Army’s new interactive campaign aims to address this lack of knowledge by showcasing the benefits of a highly-skilled Officer career compared to other professions, focusing on the leadership, challenge, adventure and training available.
University finalists also said they thought there was a lack of support after leaving the Army, that there are no skilled roles within the Army and that the risk faced on the front line was too high. As such, the campaign will also overcome common misconceptions about what the Army does, drawing on the humanitarian aspects that existing Army Officers love the most about their jobs.
The Army will today (1 October) begin a unique tour of the UK’s universities with an interactive truck roadshow, starting at the University of Nottingham and St Andrews. This will feature virtual reality experiences including a 360 experience of a Sandhurst obstacle course and a parachute jump.
A virtual beep test will also give graduates the opportunity to see if they’re fit enough to beat an Army PT instructor, while those wishing to test their leadership skills can take part in an interactive winter aid exercise. Young Officers will be manning the roadshows to reflect on the positive experiences and opportunities they’ve had in the Army.
Major General Paul Nanson, Commandant of Sandhurst, said:
“We know that today’s graduates are looking for challenge and genuine responsibility from day one in their career. They want to do something that makes a difference and are not driven by money as they used to be. A career within the Army provides this, fulfilling the desire to work with both heart and mind. This recruitment campaign aims to bring the Army to the forefront of university students’ hearts and minds by offering insight and experiences and raising awareness of the opportunities and competitive salary that Officers enjoy.
“We also know that there are further misconceptions about the background of Army Officers being elitist. We are seeing around 50 per cent of Army Officers coming from a comprehensive school background and we now have more applicants joining from polytechnic universities and fewer from the more traditional sources, such as Oxbridge.”
Army Officer, Captain Patrick Pratt, 31, serving in the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, features in the new campaign. Patrick said:
“I decided to join the Army as an Officer because after graduating there were very few other jobs that offered such a range of challenges and opportunities. My role has also given me the opportunity to lead teams and serve in humanitarian aid operations which has been by far the most rewarding experience of my career.
“While working in Afghanistan, I was able to help local families have the freedom and safety to access the local town for food, water and supplies. The infantry can provide security to countries and people in areas of conflict that will make a difference, offering peace, stability and security.
“The Army attracts people of all shapes and sizes, which is what makes it such a great institution. It doesn’t matter what your background, class or experience is – when you’re all out in a field and it’s cold and wet, money and background won’t help you set up a harbour area, do a platoon attack or manage your soldiers better.”
Verity Brown, 29, joined the Army as a Dental Officer serving with the 5 Armoured Medical Regiment. She said:
“After 18 months of practising dentistry as a graduate, I was attracted to joining the Army as it offered me the opportunity to develop and gain further qualifications, and to travel the world. I’ve continued to develop as a dentist, gaining an industry recognised qualification, the MJDF, and a graduate diploma in dental studies. I’m currently doing dentistry out of a tent on a field exercise in Canada. My role has involved treating soldiers, their families and people in local communities where the Army is based, which is very rewarding.”
The majority of Sandhurst applicants join with a university background, with only one in 10 joining without a higher education qualification. The top ten Army Officer recruiting universities for 2015 were University of Leeds, University of London University of Exeter, University of Birmingham, University of Plymouth, University of Manchester, Cardiff University, Loughborough University, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, University of Durham.
By improving awareness and understanding of what the Army does, the ‘With Heart. With Mind’ campaign supports ongoing recruitment for the Army, which aims to show that there is more to the Army than just combat roles.
For more information about the role of an Army Officer search Army Officer Jobs, visit www.army.mod.uk/officer or call 0345 700 1700.
Did you know, as an Army Officer:
- You receive an annual salary of £30,617 after training plus pension.
- You receive 30 days annual holiday on top of all the usual bank holidays, and extra time off in lieu of operations.
- You receive the best leadership and management training in the world.
- You have opportunities to travel overseas for operations, adventurous training, sport and peacekeeping.
- You have access to free gym and sports facilities, with world class fitness and nutritional advice.
- You gain skills and qualifications that are transferable to life after the Army.
- Any medical procedures or dental work that you require is paid for by the Army and is carried out by fully qualified Army personnel or private practices where necessary.
- You have a clear promotion structure to follow. Each successive rank brings extra responsibilities, duties and respect, and an increase in pay.
