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Military Service - Questions for Teachers and Youth Leaders

Step 4: Meet the recruiter

Questions for Teachers and Youth Leaders

Teachers have a responsibility to prepare young people for the adult and professional future. Military service is an opportunity for most students and can provide enriching experiences on the way to another career, or in a lifetime career where they provide a service to their country.

These questions help teachers give honest answers to students interested in a military career or guidance to students who teachers think may excel in the armed forces.

1. How does the British Military compare with the private sector?
2. Will my student be qualified for a civilian job if they leave?
3. Can the British Armed Forces sponsor my student’s further education?
4. What is the difference between enlisting and commissioning?
5. What provisions does the military make to ensure that my student will not be sexually harassed?
6. How much will they get paid?
7. How long is my student committed for?
8. Are there medical benefits?
9. How much annual leave will they have?
10. How old does my student have to be to enlist?
11. Can my student be guaranteed to do the job they want before they enlist?
12. What if my student wants to leave?
13. What sort of training will they receive?
14. How can I help?

1. How does the British Military compare with the private sector?

The military offers stable but challenging careers with regular promotions and often accelerated responsibility. It provides training in an extremely wide range of specialties, many of which have civilian counterparts.

The Military also provides leadership experience and training that help people excel in the civilian workplace when they leave the Armed Forces. Other benefits include: early retirement programs, health and dental care, 30 days (six weeks) paid holiday each year, veterans benefits, competitive pay, subsidised accommodation and food and the potential to take extra formal qualifications like A-levels or degrees.

2. Will my student be qualified for a civilian job if they leave?

Yes. The Armed Forces offer a huge range of careers, most of which have direct counterparts in the private sector. Additionally, service in the military builds leadership skills and personal responsibility traits that many employers look for in employees.

3. Can the British Armed Forces sponsor my student’s further education?

Yes. The Armed Forces provide a number of ways to help your child through A-levels and a degree. See our Money for Education Prior to Joining section for more information.

4. What is the difference between enlisting and commissioning?

Enlisting and commissioning (becoming an officer) offer different career paths. Not all jobs are available in both career paths so you should help your student make sure that their interests and abilities are reflected in their choices. Most officers are graduates but it’s possible to take the preliminary officer tests with good GCSE (or equivalent) results. They need to be able to demonstrate a potential for leadership, quick thinking and decision making.

5. What provisions does the military make to ensure that my student will not be sexually harassed?

The Ministry of Defence has stringent policies against harassment of any kind. Training is conducted in well-supervised, and generally safe environments.

6. How much will they get paid?

This depends if they join as a Regular or a Reserve, at the basic entry level or as an officer. See the Benefits Section (add link) for information about the rates of pay for the different options.

7. How long is my student committed for?

This depends on what service they choose, what career field they pick, and the training they accept. In many cases they can apply to leave after three years but they will need to give long notice periods such as a year.

8. Are there medical benefits?

Your student will receive health and dental care on a par with, or better than, the NHS. As they are required to be physically fit to serve in the Armed Forces they should have less health issues than the average UK person.

9. How much annual leave will they have?

Annual leave is 30 days (six weeks) per year.

10. Enlistment: How old does my student have to be to enlist?

This depends on the Service, in some cases they can sign up when they are 16, but they can’t start training until they are 17. They will need parental consent if they are under 18 when they start training.

11. Can my student be guaranteed to do the job they want before they enlist?

This depends on the particular job and the Service and this should be discussed with the Armed Forces recruiter.

12. What if my student wants to leave?

Commitment to the British Armed Forces is based on a contract, which means that personnel are legally bound to serve their term. However, there are some options at the initial training stage. For example, in the Army you have to serve 28 days training once you enlist and after this point you can apply in writing to leave the Army. You have three months to do this if you are over 18 and six months if you are under 18.

13. What sort of training will they receive?

The training that your student receives depends on the service and career path they select. Training will include both job specific proficiency and general military training such as team building and leadership.

14. How can I help? Be sure that you help your students think through the process completely. You may want to help them find ways to prepare for their entrance tests and to evaluate their choices.

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