YES ! A Big Yes for Migrants/Foreigners to be a part of British Army. We can apply/ join the Army from the age of 16 years as a Soldier and from the age of 18 to the Officer Rank. The British Army are enormously welcoming nationals of Commonwealth countries and The Republic of Ireland to serve in the British Army. You should apply to join the Regular (full time) Army. You can’t join as a Reservist (part-time) from the above mentioned nationals.

The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom. The British Army is considered to be one of the most highly regarded and best equipped armies in the world. The British Army is so powerful and high standing is because of the Parachute Regiment. Its known for the rapid response team section in the British Army. The Army is administered by the Ministry of Defence and is commanded by Chief of the General Staff. In UK, British Army consists of regular full time personnel, Gurkhas, Reserve personnel. The British Army, primarily composed of Cavalry ( soldiers who fights in armoured vehicles), Royal Artillery (uses large-calibre guns), Infantry ( soldiers marching or fighting on foot).

After 2019 the norms and laws related to join in the British Army had changed the overall face of the Army. It means that by this not only UK resident but also migrants/ foreigners from Common wealth countries and Irish citizens are eligible to join the British Army. The Common wealth countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Brunei Darussalem. Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland. Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda. United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

Every individual who wishes to join British Army need to fulfill specific prerequisites. These incorporate age, wellbeing, and identity. The age preference they indicating is between 16 and 49 years old. The health & fitness, medical condition, education, criminal convictions need to be clear to join in the British Army. The British Army career opportunities which is existing now were Standard entry soldiers, Junior soldiers aged 16/17, Professionally qualified soldiers, Direct entry, Specialist officers, Interns/Internships, Army reserve soldier, Army reserve officer, Re-joiners. You can perform the service as British Army in the field of State security, Ministry of interior, Ministry of defence and armed forces, The supreme council for the preservation of national security, Institutions and other bodies operating in a military system and others. The main benefits of joining the British Army is after joining , you may get attractive salary, comprehensive healthcare, housing, money for education, good vacations, family services, career support after the service.

There will be limited slots for foreign nationals to join the Army. The citizens of common wealth countries and Irish citizens who are wished to join British Army need to fulfill mainly two criteria’s. The first one is that you must have permission to enter in UK and the second is that you must have to possess a passport that is valid for atleast 2 years after you start to serve in the army. Until the day you join in the army, you’re responsible for making sure that your visa is valid and you’re in the country legally. If your visa runs out, you will need to pay for yourself to go back home to apply for a new visa, before carrying on with your application. The people migrated to UK for study purpose/Student visa can join the Army after their studies, only if their Visa has a work permit or two year stay back after they join the Army. You will be given ‘exempt immigration control’ status while you’re serving. You will need to pay to regularize your immigration status yourself, if you want to stay in the UK after your service ends. It is easier to apply while you’re serving, as long as you have served for atleast four years.

You can also bring your family with you while you’re serving the Army, as long as you and your family meet the immigration rules. You can pay for their visa and travel costs. Make sure that you talk to your recruiter about your immigration circumstances. For your family to come to UK, you and your family must meet the minimum income and English language requirements. As of 2020/2021 survey, the minimum income requirements to bring in entitled family members are : Partner (no children)- £18,600; Partner with 1 child- £22,400; Partner with 2 children- £24,800; Partner with 3 children- £27,200; It might take you several years to earn enough to bring your family to the UK. You will also need to pay their travel and visa costs. Entry visa costs are changed every April. As of now, a visa for 2021/2022 costs £1,538 per person.

As above mentioned you could join the Army for a soldier post or for the officer post. Both Officer post and Soldier post contains two job sections; one is Regular(full-time) and the other is Reservist(part-time). The process regarding selection of members to Soldier post as well as for Officer post is different. Members who are applying for Soldier post will go through certain Army processes, first stage is Army briefing, then to assessment centre ( here you will be examined both mentally and physically), then to final paperwork to begin your Initial training phase. After you passed the assessment centre, you’re
ready to start your training. Members who are applying for the Officer post will undergo stages; first stage is Interview, then to assessment centre ( Army Officer Selection Board ASOB)- it takes place in two parts ASOB briefing (assessed on physical and practical exercises) and ASOB main board (It will last for 2 and half days, here you should show your abilities and physicalmental fitness). After you passed the assessment centre, you will be given an offer of employment. Once you’ve accepted, you will need to go on a precommissioning course.

The British Army is changing the way it operates as the technology advances. They are delivering the most radical transformation to the British Army called as Future Soldiers. Future soldier is an emerging concept in the British Army which is a reform of British Army arising from Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy published on 22nd March 2021. It involves thinking differently about emerging threats and dealing with the situations, and the skills & capabilities they possess, and equipments we need. Data and technology will be used more and more on the battlefield. More robotic and autonomus vehicles such as drones, sensors and surveillance systems were emerging and updating. Also the progress and improvements in the weapons, missiles, projectiles, harpoons, spikes, landmines etc have the ability to kill and defend enemies with greater range and accuracy.

Conclusion

The British Army is expanding and there upon calling new recruitments. There have been a seven-fold increase in the Irish recruits to the British Armed Forces since the recession began. Joining in British Army is not only a job but a career with guaranteed income and a pension depending on how long your service is. It is a very well rewarding career with a vide ranges of opportunities for personal development and promotion. British Army also provide benefits such as family benefits which includes benefits to their children. There are Comprehensive healthcare plans, housing, cash allowances to cover the cost of living, money for education, scholarship schemes for children, family services and even career supporting after your service. British Army also provides Dignity to oneself.

The British Army is actively engaged in the operational duties around the world. The works done by the British Army ranges from peace keeping to providing humanitarian aid, from implementing counter-terrorism measures to helping combat the international drug trade. Future Soldier will be a change in the mindset; Army needs to understand and account for the impact which environmental change has on our world, our operations, and our security.

Rather than the job specifications and oppurtunities in the Army sector there are risks to face. As there is a saying that “ Every job has its own risks and difficulties and one must go through these to sustain” just like “ Survival of the Fittest”. Choose to be the best.

As a Reservist you will have the option to complete your training in smaller chunks (weekends) or to do it in one go. You will also be welcomed to join your new unit’s drill nights before you’re fully trained.

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