Reserve Officer Application Process
Becoming an Army Reservist - what happens when you apply?
Joining Steps: Reserve Officer
- Stage 1Starting the progress
There are two ways to join the Army as an Officer in the Army Reserve.
The first is simply to apply online to become a Reservist Officer.
The alternative is to apply to become a soldier in the Army Reserve, and then apply to become an officer once you've joined.
- Stage 2Meet your unit
Now that you've applied, you'll be given a Candidate Support Manager. You can also follow your progress online. You'll normally be invited to meet your chosen unit and find out more, while giving the team a chance to see if you are a good fit. The team will tell you about the different roles that are available. During your meeting the team will help you plan what you need to do to go on to the next stage.
- Stage 3Assessment
Join as a Soldier first
Your assessment will last for 2 days and will take place in one of our Assessment Centres in the UK. We will pay for your travel to get there and back.
This is your chance to see whether the Army is right for you, and for us to see whether you're suitable to join. During your stay, the assessment will include:
A full medical examination.
Physical and mental tests.
Team exercises to see how you work with other people.
An interview.
If you're successful at the Assessment Centre, you can enlist when you arrive back at your unit.
Find out what to expect at assessment
Joining directly as an officer
If you decide to join directly as an officer, you will skip this stage and go straight to stage 4 - The Army Officer Selection Board.
- Stage 4Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB)
Next, you'll be invited to Westbury for the AOSB Briefing - a 24 hour session to assess your officer potential, and to teach you the skills you'll need to pass the Main Board.
Pass the Briefing, and you'll be asked back to Westbury for the Main Board, where you'll be tested mentally and physically over 3 1/2 days.
Once you've passed AOSB, you're ready to start your training. We'll still need to run some background checks on you, but these are nothing to worry about.*
More about the Army Officer Selection board
*We work with the following agencies for this information: Disclosure and Barring Service; Disclosure Scotland; Access Northern Ireland and National Security Vetting.