Army officer selection

What is the Briefing?

Your first stage is a 2 day trip to the selection centre in Westbury, Wiltshire, for your Briefing.

Here, you’ll be taught how to prepare for your next visit, the Main Board, and assessed during physical and practical exercises.

The AOSB Briefing is where you can start showing who you are: so be sure to arrive well-rested and well-prepared. However, don’t be worried by the tests; they’re designed to help us understand your development needs before you attend the Main Board.

If your performance at Briefing shows that you’re ready for the Main Board you’ll be put forward for a place.

If you applied to join for a Professionally Qualified Officer (PQO) commission you will not normally attend Briefing. The preparation covered at Briefing is included in the Main Board (Short) programme.

What happens at Briefing?

Day 1

• Welcome Address and Introduction Brief.

• Psychometric testing – similar to the practice sessions offered on line (a link to the practice site is provided by email when booked onto the Briefing event).

• A Group Discussion including a short 2 minute introduction by each candidate.

• Planning Exercise tutorial presentation and an opportunity to complete a practice planning exercise.

• Interview – a short interview with the group leader. 

Day 2

• Practical Techniques on completing practical tasks and undertake a leaderless tasks in the group.

• Physical Tests – practice the Multi-stage Fitness Test (MSFT), throwing a medicine ball and a measured weight lift, and complete a small course of individual tasks.  

What is the Main Board?

The next step will be your invitation to attend the Main Board, which is a residential assessment. You’ll need to arrive physically and mentally fit, as the tests will be demanding. For this reason, you may be advised to wait between Briefing and Main Board, so you come prepared to perform at your best.

What happens at Main Board?

Day 1:

• Introductory talk - tips on how to make the most of your trip

• Psychometric tests - a measure of your cognitive and personality profile

• Written test – write a short essay on current affairs

• Multi Stage Fitness test - candidates should aspire to exceed level 8.7, the activity is run up to level 11.6

Day 2:

• Outdoor tasks- these are group exercises in practical problem solving that you saw at Briefing

• Interview - you'll be asked about your experiences and interests, and why you are applying to be an Army officer

• Tutorial - a reminder of what was covered in the Briefing and a revision period in preparation for the planning exercise

Day 3:

• Lecture - Give a 5 minute talk and take questions from the group

• Planning exercise - This is a test of conceptual problem solving. This exercise involves a solo written assessment followed by a group discussion.

  Your written submission is broken into 2 elements:

  1) a short set of focused questions, this will also include a copy of the map from the scenario for you to add information to, and

  2) an open answer sheet to submit your thinking. This covers four areas: aims, factors, options, and your plan. You are then asked to justify your plan. See an example.

• Command task - Outdoor activities where you'll take turns to lead the group

• Individual Task course - Take on as many tasks as you can within a time limit

Day 4:

• Final group command task - This consists of a series of minor command tasks in sequence that the group complete against other groups on the board.