Signals officers; leaders in a digital age
"The variety of job roles and opportunity to travel have kept my career as a Signals Officer both interesting and rewarding."
Royal Signals officers lead and motivate specialist soldiers responsible for the Army's communication systems. You'll help to set up headquarters on operations, designing and establishing the communications networks that run through them and out across the battle space. Or you could find yourself coordinating electronic warfare attacks on enemy communications networks, or protecting friendly networks from cyber attacks. Your soldiers are amongst the most qualified in the Army and you will be expected to lead them in the field, in barracks and on adventurous training.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Enjoy unrivalled travel opportunities.
- Access continued professional development throughout your entire career, including Chartered Status.
- Get command responsibility early on - you can expect your first Command to be 40 soldiers or more.
- Work independently and think on your feet.
- Provide communications for British Army formations and links to other nations and governmental organisations.
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
Step 1
You’ll start your career on the 44-week Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. This is for all officer cadets, regardless of the Corps that they’re hoping to join.
Step 2
Following a short attachment you will attend the special to arm Royal Signals Troop Commanders' Course. This 5-month course prepares you to take up your first appointment as a Royal Signals Troop Commander. You will learn the fundamentals of all systems; satellite communication, radio propagation, computer network theory. These fundamentals will enable you to command the experts in each particular system; the Royal Signals soldiers.:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Age: 17 years 9 months - 28 years 11 months
QUALIFICATIONS: 72 UCAS points and 35 ALIS points at GCSE (including at least grade C/4 in English, Maths and a science / foreign language).
FITNESS:
Mid Thigh Pull 76kg
Medicine Ball Throw 3.1m
2km run 10m 15s (multistage fitness test)
QUALIFICATIONS YOU COULD GET AFTER TRAINING
- Troop Commanders Course equates to 2/3 of BSc Communication Management (further distance learning required). MSc / MEng opportunities Chartered Practitioner in IT Funded membership of professional bodies (IET/BCS).
RANK PROGRESSION
Learn about rank progression here.
PAY & BENEFITS
REGULAR
You'll earn £26,504 during your year of training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, before commissioning and becoming a Second Lieutenant, on £31,857 a year.
RESERVE
You’ll get paid a day rate according to your rank, starting from £66.54 once you have passed Army Officer Selection and rising to £79.98 per day once you’ve commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. This includes being paid for weekly drill nights. Plus, if you complete all of your annual training days, you’re entitled to a tax-free lump sum called a bounty.
FROM THE FIELD
"Wherever the Army is deployed, Royal Signals capability is required to enable Command & Control (C2) by higher formations. This has meant that my career to date has involved extensive global travel to enable Commanders at all levels to operate. Facing an uncertain future, one thing is guaranteed; communications and cyber warfare are key aspects of national defence and the Royal Signals will remain the UKs key military player in this domain. I dedicate a significant proportion of my working year to professional development to ensure I am technically capable of meeting this challenge."
TRAINING FOR THE ROLE
Step 1
You’ll need to pass the Army Reserve Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. You can complete this in modules or in one go – depending on your circumstances.
Step 2
Further Royal Signals specific technical training teaches you how to apply your IT and Technical skills in a military context. When trained you get the opportunity to deploy with Regular units on operations.:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Age: 17 years 9 months - 48 year 9 months
QUALIFICATIONS: 72 UCAS points and 35 ALIS points at GCSE, including minimum grade C/4 in English, Maths as well as a Science or Foreign Language
FITNESS:
Mid Thigh Pull 76kg
Medicine Ball Throw 3.1m
2km run 10m 15s (multistage fitness test)
QUALIFICATIONS YOU COULD GET AFTER TRAINING
- Troop Commanders Course equates to 2/3 of BSc Communication Management (further distance learning required).
- Further Graduate Education opportunities
- Opportunities to gain Chartered Practitioner in IT
- Funded membership of professional bodies (IET/BCS).
RANK PROGRESSION
Learn about rank progression here.
PAY & BENEFITS
REGULAR
You'll earn £26,504 during your year of training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, before commissioning and becoming a Second Lieutenant, on £31,857 a year.
RESERVE
You’ll get paid a day rate according to your rank, starting from £66.54 once you have passed Army Officer Selection and rising to £79.98 per day once you’ve commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. This includes being paid for weekly drill nights. Plus, if you complete all of your annual training days, you’re entitled to a tax-free lump sum called a bounty.
FROM THE FIELD
"Being a Reserve Officer is fantastic. It has allowed me to grow and develop alongside my chosen career and university commitments. The most exciting part of my job has been my recent mobilisation to the Afghanistan National Army Officers’ Academy in Kabul where I have been working as a Female Platoon Commander. The diversity of roles that you can complete is also one of the many exciting things about this role. Recently I have; won the Lanyard Trophy, instructed on the Corps Ski Camp and taken up my current role as the Operations Officer within 43 Signal Squadron."
HOW TO APPLY?
Once your online application has been approved, you'll have an interview with a recruiter, who will talk to you about the corps that you would like to join. You'll have the chance to learn more about your chosen corps, although you won't make your final decision until you're in training at Sandhurst.