Page 11 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Other Activities Training Corps now falling under the
Sandhurst Group there is a more regulated
In order to promote the opportunities approach throughout, which includes that
available in the Corps, all team members all Officer Cadets will be briefed by all cap
must have first hand experience of them. badges of the Army. This means that more
Recent representation in Corps sport has focus and engagement has happened
included basketball, sailing and football. for 2015/16 to ensure that the AGC are
The team is always dedicated to coming represented, so that Officer Cadets can
up with new ways to promote the Corps. continue to be better informed. Having
Currently in the pipeline is a new display built up relationships with the University
of Military Police tactics and a number of Officer Training Corps over the year we
interactive activities to capture interest at have been able to attend alternative events
public events. The team looks after a new throughout and brief them fully instead Corporal Kial Jones with a visitor to the recruiting stand at
one of the many events
member of the Corps: mascot Mackenzie of in attendance with the other Combat
the Lion, affectionately named after the Service Support cap badges.
first Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant Potential Officer Briefing
General’s Corps, General Sir Jeremy Officer Familiarisation Visits Course
Mackenzie GCB OBE.
As well as Sandhurst activities, we also Experience continues to highlight that
conduct Officer Familiarisation Visits some of the Corps most successful Direct
at Worthy Down. By having the three Entrant Officers started their service as
Branches showcased over the three days, soldiers first. The aim of the Potential
the Potential Officers both civilian and Officer Briefing Course is to make the
serving soldiers, identified for Direct Entry commissioning process more transparent
Commission, have the opportunity to learn and offer developmental opportunities
about the capabilities of the three branches, in order to provide a realistic indication
therefore, arriving at Sandhurst more aware of the soldier’s preparedness to continue
of the variety of Careers in the Army. It was through the commissioning process. The
Corporal Kial Jones and Corporal Benjamin Hickey with mascot also apparent that many that attended first course ran in May 2016 and was a
Mackenzie the Lion would have two of the three branches as success, the feedback provided explained
Officer Recruiting choices. The Officer Familiarisation Visits that the Potential Officer Briefing Course
explores career opportunities, including allowed the soldiers to be more aware of
Officer Recruiting across the Army the Army Officer Selection Board process,
faces its biggest challenge yet. With a if it is a career path they wish to pursue.
combination of high employment rates, It also highlighted areas for development
graduation schemes for university students if the soldiers were to continue down the
and the end of recent operations, the path of a Direct Entry commission. The
Army offer has been more difficult to sell. Potential Officer Briefing Course is due to
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst run twice a year.
has seen its numbers plummet and
with fewer potential officers per intake, Members of the Corps Engagement Team with Winchester
recruiting across the cap badges has been Cathedral as backdrop
challenging for all, resulting in a more
fierce approach. With potential officers
spread amongst the three terms (juniors,
intermediates and seniors) the nurturing
piece is essential for each term in order to
enthuse, inform and guide future officers of
the Corps. Sergeant Richie Driver, Warrant Officer Class 2 Mick Sellers and
Captain Graham Coulson managing one of the checkpoints
University Officer Training during the Late Entry Commissioning Assessment Board
Corps visits, about the three branches and
provides a greater understanding of the
University Officer Training Corps across Army Officer Selection Board process and
the country remains ‘vital ground’. Each requirements. Activities typically include
University Officer Training Corps is visited a multi-stage fitness test, obstacle course,
throughout the year; the aim is to educate command tasks, current affairs discussion,
potential officers of the capabilities that the lectures, presentations and plenty of time in
Corps has to offer and the type of careers the Officers Mess in order to meet and talk
that can be had. With University Officer with serving officers of the Corps.

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