During this stage you will learn basic military skills on training weekends, midweek training evenings and finally a two week course. The two week course is normally run by the regular army at a Recruit Training Centre for the TA. You will learn about such things as physical fitness, fieldcraft, first aid, weapon handling and map reading.
A mix of classroom and hands on training will have you performing your specific tasks effectively, efficiently and professionally within a year. The test of your new skills comes when you go out on exercise and contribute to your unit's success.
There you will be assessed through a series of mental and physical tasks and if successful you will receive further leadership and development training. You will be given every possible opportunity to develop your analytical, management and leadership skills, before attending the commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
If successful, you will be granted a probationary commission as a Second Lieutenant. If you have previous military experience with the Regular or Reserves Forces, including the Officer Training Corps, or hold special skills such as a Doctor or Chaplain, you may be eligible for a Direct Commission.
A category C+E driving licence is an essential part of many trades - another useful qualification to pick up along the way.
You will be taught how to instruct others, and this not only develops your self confidence, but is also a very rewarding activity.