Union Jack flag of Great Britain
Great Britain has a system of military colleges to instill basic officer training. Much like the service academies of the United States, these colleges are separated by the different armed services, at least for the initial officer training. Unlike the American service academies, they don't combine a four-year university education with their commissioning programs. Another point of differentiation is that many of their colleges include or are collocated with programs for enlisted training.
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
This college is located on the Royal Air Force Base at Cranwell in Lincolnshire County. It has the distinction of being the first military aviation academy; it was established in February 5, 1920. The college's Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit (OACTU) trains future junior officers and noncommissioned aircrew. The Initial Officer Training Course (IOTC) lasts 32 weeks. The OACTU also trains officers who transfer over from the other services and provides courses for reserve officers who will deploy. The college is one of many organizations located on the base. In addition, there are active air squadrons, flight training for all three armed forces, and aeronautical and logistics training.
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 8HB
United Kingdom
+44-0-1400-266334
raf.mod.uk
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Marching in step
All army officers go through this academy, located in Surrey County. The vast majority of the cadets already have a university degree, but there are exceptions to include enlisted soldiers who have qualified for selected officer training. The Academy also hosts soldiers from international armies. The basic Commissioning Course for Regular Army Officers is 48 weeks. It provides rigorous physical training and academic and military courses. The Academy also conducts specialized courses for those holding professional degrees (e.g. doctor), Territorial Army commissioning (similar to the U.S. Reserves), and newly commissioned officers from the enlisted ranks.
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 4PQ
United Kingdom
army.mod.uk
Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Initial Officer Training (IOT) is 28 weeks and is divided into two terms of 14 weeks each. In the first term, students learn the basics of seamanship, weapons training, naval subjects, and military management and organization. The second term introduces the future officers to shipboard life and they will deploy with the ship to various ports across the world for the first ten weeks. In the final four weeks, they complete their training with additional subjects and a final examination. The candidates for this academy must have a university education. However, this academy also has specialized training for the enlisted ranks to become officers. The training time is shorter, seven weeks, to avoid unnecessary introductory courses.
Britannia Royal Naval College
Dartmouth
Devon
TQ6 0HJ
United Kingdom
0-1803-832141
royalnavy.mod.uk
Commando Training Center, Royal Marines
Although not referred to as a traditional college of academy, this training center graduates officers who will lead the Royal Marines. The training program lasts 15 months and two weeks and includes the same commando training that the enlisted ranks receive. Officers and enlisted personnel train together at this center. This training is exclusively male as of April 2010.
Royal Marines Commando Training Centre
Lympstone
United Kingdom
0-8456-07-55-55
royalmarinesonline.com
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
This Academy provides graduate-level education to UK armed forces officers, as well as to Ministry of Defence civilians and officers from foreign military services. This Academy is further divided into four colleges: Royal College of Defence Studies, College of Management and Technology, Joint Services Command and Staff College and Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre.
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Shrivenham
Wiltshire
SN6 8LA
+44-0-1793-785615
defac.ac.uk
Tags: United Kingdom, enlisted ranks, Great Britain, officer training, Royal Marines, Academy also, Academy Sandhurst