Army officer

As an army officer, your duties will depend on your unit.

In a combat role you could:

• command infantry soldiers on operations
•  pilot a helicopter and lead your crew and ground troops
•  co-ordinate surveillance to locate tank and artillery targets

In a medical or healthcare role, you could:

• care for injured soldiers as a doctor or nurse
•  provide dental care for army personnel and their families
•  work with military animals as a veterinary officer

You could also:

• co-ordinate supplies for disaster relief efforts and military deployments
•  manage engineering projects from setting up camps to building bridges
•  plan operations based on intelligence gathering
•  provide support and guidance to soldiers and their families as a chaplain

• leadership skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• concentration skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to work well with others
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You could get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Your first command post will usually be for 12 years though you can leave during training or after 3 years' service. With training and experience, you could move up through the ranks from lieutenant to captain, major and beyond.

Throughout your army career, you'll have the opportunity to gain qualifications in your chosen field.

On leaving active service, you could use your skills, qualifications and experience to go into a new career, for example in management, planning or teaching. You can find details about support and opportunities from:

• Quest
• Career Transition Partnership
• Forces Employment Charity
• Get Into Teaching