British Army Officer recruitment roadshow comes to Northumbria University

The British Army is in Newcastle today and tomorrow to speak to university students and recent graduates about a potential career as an Army Officer as part of its new high-tech recruitment drive.

The new campaign, ‘With Heart. With Mind’, is the first officer specific recruitment drive in eight years, and has been launched to attract more recruits by showcasing the Army Officer as a highly-skilled career that offers leadership, challenge and the opportunity to do something that makes a difference.

Virtual reality Sandhurst obstacle course

Latest figures show a decline in the number of graduates and school leavers opting for a career as an Army Officer, with only 81 per cent of posts filled for the year 2014/2015.

Furthermore, graduate recruitment into the Armed Forces has steadily fallen over the last decade and is now 27 per cent lower than in 2005. A recent survey among recruitment target audiences found that 46 per cent were not aware the Army was recruiting.

New research conducted by the Army has also found that three-quarters of university finalists were unaware of salary levels, fast promotions or the ability to gain professional qualifications available to graduates in the Army.

Not a Dalek

The Army’s new interactive campaign aims to address this lack of knowledge by showcasing the benefits of a highly-skilled Officer career compared to other professions, focusing on the leadership, challenge, adventure and training available.

University finalists also said they thought there was a lack of support after leaving the Army, that there are no skilled roles within the Army and that the risk faced on the front line was too high. As such, the campaign aims to overcome common misconceptions about what the Army does, drawing on the humanitarian aspects that existing Army Officers love the most about their jobs.

Today and tomorrow the truck will be on Northumberland Road in Northumbria University, where potential recruits can take part in virtual reality experiences including a 360 experience of a Sandhurst obstacle course and a parachute jump.

A virtual beep test will also give graduates the opportunity to see if they’re fit enough to beat an Army Physical Training instructor, while those wishing to test their leadership skills can take part in an interactive winter aid exercise. Young Officers will be manning the roadshows to reflect on the positive experiences and opportunities they’ve had in the Army.

The majority of applicants to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where all British Army officers gain world renowned military training, join with a university background, with only one in 10 joining without a higher education qualification.

Virtual reality headset

The top three Army Officer recruiting universities for 2015 were University of Leeds, University of London and the University of Exeter.

The top 10 university courses studied by Army Officers in 2015 were:

1. History
2. Geography
3. Sports Science
4. Mechanical Engineering
5. Civil Engineering
6. Politics
7. Law
8. Economics
9. Business
10. Biology

Interactive bleep test

By improving awareness and understanding of what the Army does, the ‘With Heart. With Mind’ campaign supports ongoing recruitment for the Army, which aims to show that there is more to the Army than just combat roles.

Student Owen Craggs

Owen Craggs, a second year in Computer and Digital Forensics, said “it has helped develop my leadership skills and interpersonal skills and time management. I got into the army scheme through the freshers fair similar to the one we are pursuing now, I know it existed and as soon as I saw the stand. I signed up straight away.”