Editing Army Officer Selection Board (section)

==Types of board==

===AOSB briefing===
This takes place over two days and must be attended prior to being able to proceed to the main board. It is an opportunity for candidates to learn some of the techniques that will be tested at the main board, and for the AOSB assessors to offer advice and guidance to those attending about how prepared they are to attempt the much more challenging main board.  It is designed to give potential officers an idea of what is required and expected at the main board. Candidates will participate in a number of assessments, including physical and intellectual ones. The results will be used by AOSB assessors when feeding back to candidates.

After attending AOSB briefing, candidates will be assigned a category based on the evidence available to the assessors.  This will be:
# Allowed to proceed to the main board as soon as desired.
# Required to delay for between 3 and 24 months (often awarded to younger candidates with potential ability but insufficient maturity, or for remedial purposes such as to improve upon [[physical fitness]])
# The candidate is thought unlikely to pass the Main Board based on the evidence presented at briefing. However, they are not prevented from attempting the Main Board if, after further consideration, they believe they can achieve the required standard.
# The candidate is not considered suitable for commissioned service based on the evidence available.  This may be as a result of a number of issues, including their personality or their ability to apply their intellect. Candidates who receive a Category 4 at the briefing may appeal against this result if they believe that their performance was not representative. If successful (strong cases must be made) the candidate may be allowed to attend a Main Board.<ref>{{cite web |title=Do you want to become an army officer? |url=https://www.how2become.com/careers/army-officer/ |accessdate=23 May 2019 |website=how2become}}</ref>

===AOSB main board===
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[[File:Cadets Tackle an Army Assault Course MOD 45155857.jpg|thumb|Officer Cadets of the [[UOTC]] undertaking an obstacle course in preparation for an AOSB]]
This is a four-day selection event that consists of a number of different but inter-linked intellectual, physical, mental and aptitude tests. It is designed to put candidates for both the Regular Army and Army Reserve under pressure whilst fostering their team spirit and competitiveness.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goodley |first1=Heloise |title=An Officer and a Gentlewoman : the Making of a Female British Army Officer. |date=2012 |publisher=Constable & Robinson |isbn=978-1780330143}}</ref>

The Boards normally run from Tuesday until Friday but a small number each year take place from Thursday until Sunday.

On arrival, candidates are allocated a number (used instead of their name) and placed into groups. As candidates are assessed against a standard and not against each other's performance, strong groups may see a large proportion of their members meet the standard.

On the last night of the course a formal dinner is held for the candidates. The staff are at pains to point out that the meal is not an assessment, and no directing staff are present at the event.

The details of the physical tasks, command tasks, interviews and academic tests are not made public. It is known that the assessment consists of a physical fitness assessment, an individual obstacle course, two multiple-choice tests on current affairs and general knowledge (in the past a third test covered military knowledge), three interviews, a group discussion and essay on current and moral affairs, a 5-minute lecture, individual planning exercise, and both leaderless team tasks and a series of command tasks where a team member commands the rest. There are also group races where each group gets an opportunity to test themselves against the other groups undergoing selection at the time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Just what is officer material? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8359547.stm |accessdate=22 May 2019 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=16 November 2009}}</ref>

Candidates are only permitted to make two attempts to pass the board, which must be separated by a minimum of eight months.

=== Chaplains ===
Selection for [[Royal Army Chaplains' Department|Army chaplains]] – including regular, reserve, and cadet force roles – takes place at the AOSB.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Army Chaplains' Department |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-army-chaplains-department/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.army.mod.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===CFCB (Cadet Forces) Board===
The Cadet Forces Commissions Board is used to select officers for the [[Army Cadet Force]].  Run over a weekend, the course is broadly similar to the AOSB Main Board, without physical tests. There is no set quota for selection and candidates are assessed against a standard, not each other.

Following completion of CFCB, a candidate is awarded one of four possible results:

# Selected – The candidate has been successful at the board and is recommended for an Army Cadet Force commission.
# Not Selected (Encourage) – The candidate has not been successful, however it has been recognised that they have potential and are encouraged to attempt the board again at a later date.
# Not Selected – The candidate has not been successful. If they wish, they can attempt the board again at a later date.
# Not Selected (Discourage) – The candidate has not been successful and is deemed to be unsuitable for a commission. The candidate cannot normally attend for another attempt, however in extenuating circumstances their county commandant can appeal to the President CFCB for an exception to be made.

If a candidate has not been successful at the board, they must wait at least a year before a second attempt. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, they must wait a minimum of five years for a third attempt.

===Army Scholarship Board===
The Army runs two Scholarship Boards each year for boys and girls aged between 16 and 17. The board is similar in many ways to the Main Board, with a fitness test, interviews, planning exercise and leadership tasks. The process takes 24 hours, and is tailored to suit candidates in this age range. The Board is designed to identify intelligence and leadership at a young age. Successful candidates are then subject to further scrutiny by Recruiting Group prior to potentially receiving a financial award whilst at sixth form, and then a subsequent annual award for each year whilst studying at university. They are also awarded a final lump sum on completion of the 44-week Commissioning Course after university. By passing the Board, scholars have a guaranteed place at [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], and they do not need to pass the AOSB Main Board to enter that establishment.