Discover Internships with the British Army: 2Lt Marshall

Are you looking for an adventure that goes beyond the ordinary? Do you want to develop invaluable life skills while exploring the world? The British Army offers a unique internship experience that combines rigorous training, personal growth, and unforgettable adventures. Whether you’re interested in leadership, teamwork, or simply seeking a challenge, the Army Officer Internship could be the perfect opportunity for you.

In this video, you’ll hear firsthand from a current intern 2Lt Ryan Marshall about their journey, experiences, and the incredible opportunities a British Army Officer Internship provides. Get inspired and learn more about what it takes to be part of this prestigious program.

2Lt Marshall: A Journey Through the Army Officer Internship

When did you apply for the army internship?

I applied for the Army Officer Internship at the start of Year 13 / upper sixth form. This gave me enough time to complete my medical, go to the Army Officer Selection Board, and prepare for the tests thrown at me during the time I would spend at Sandhurst.

What are you studying at university?

I’m currently studying Biomedical Sciences in my first year at the University of Southampton. So far I’m really enjoying the course and have made lots of great friends from both my course and the societies that I attend.

Why did you apply for the army internship?

I applied for the Army Officer Internship because I wanted to explore the world whilst developing important life skills. My brother had done the internship in the year before me, working with 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and I thought it would be a great idea to apply for the same regiment since he spoke very highly of his experiences with the regiment and its officers, as well as the very skilled soldiers.

What is the best aspect of the internship?

The best aspect of the internship in my opinion is that you get paid to go to amazing places during your year out, then when you come back you’ve gained so many valuable skills that will definitely benefit you during university, or if you wish, you can continue your career in the British Army.

Anything you wish you would’ve known before applying for the internship?

Looking back at my experience, I think that it would’ve been very helpful if I knew exactly how to contact each regiment before going to Sandhurst. I ran into a little bit of trouble waiting to be selected by my preferred regiment, mainly because I took a while picking which regiments to contact and look into.

Falkland Islands: Operation “FIRIC”

I was deployed to the Falklands in late April with my 2 PARA platoon, merged with B Company 3 PARA. There I was overseeing the company’s finances and improving the quality of living for those within the RIC (Roulement Infantry Corps) – A company of Infantry soldiers and officers tasked with defending, deterring and reassuring the Falkland Islands.

During the 3 month deployment, I took part in and completed several gruelling physical events that occurred during P-Company test week, such as the 2, 10 and 20-milers. On top of this, I spent several weeks testing my marksmanship and battle skills and drills on Onion Range Camp – a huge range area on East Falklands with pretty much 360 arcs of shooting around you.

I was responsible for securing funding for adventurous training, such as day trips and helicopter rides to see different penguin colonies on the islands.

Norway: Exercise “Joint Viking”

I spent 2 months deployed in the high north on a NATO winter exercise with 2 PARA. Here I took part in an amazing 3-week Arctic Warfare Operator course, where I learnt many crucial skills which kept me alive in the rough climate of the Arctic Circle, with weather often reaching as low as -25 degrees Celsius. After this, I then helped lead several patrols into the beautiful Norwegian mountain ranges, where we planned ambushes for the large-scale NATO exercise “Joint Viking”.

Here we were acting as an enemy who had invaded Norway and were defending against several NATO members' military forces. For this exercise I was placed in a section of Parachute Regiment riflemen, navigating the harsh snowy terrain of the Norwegian mountain ranges.

This exercise lasted 10 days, which was very demanding considering our coldest night was -32 Celsius. The final attack of the exercise saw my whole company boarding Merlin helicopters and assaulting a position of over 200 Norwegian conscripts and regular serving soldiers.

This was an amazing experience and I truly believe if you can learn to survive in the dangerous conditions that Norway has to offer, you can probably survive anywhere.