Late entry officers in the British Army face no formal restrictions on which officer appointments they can hold, with all officers now considered under a single merit-based selection system, the Ministry of Defence has said.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 4 February, Defence Minister Louise Sandher-Jones responded to Liberal Democrat MP Chris Coghlan, who asked what restrictions apply to late entry officers and why those restrictions are in place.
Sandher-Jones said late entry officers are eligible to apply for the same appointments as direct entry officers, adding: “since 2023 all officers have been considered together for roles under a single, merit-based system.”
She stated that there are “no formal restrictions” preventing late entry officers from being appointed to particular posts. However, she noted that some roles require specific experience or career pathways which direct entry officers are more likely to have.
The minister also said that some posts, particularly those requiring extensive soldiering experience, may be better suited to late entry officers.
Sandher-Jones said selection is based on the Army’s needs and the skills and experience required for each role.
She added that the Army is currently reviewing how to improve parity between late entry and direct entry career structures, including how late entry officers could access a broader range of roles and development opportunities, while ensuring operational effectiveness remains the priority.
So a private could potentially rise to a Generalship, time allowing?
Sharpe made Lieutenant Colonel so it must be the case.
This is about appointments (ie jobs) not promotions. Advancing to high rank for an ex-ranker has always been possible. Perhaps google Sir William Robertson (1860-1933),
I would say its possible, but not always achievable. There is a definitive barrier once you reach major, the same in the RAF when reaching Wing Commander and Navy for Lt Commander.
Slight correction and addendum to what Graham said: Advancing to General Rank has always been possible for Privates, there have been a few in our lifetime even. But it’s normally been achieved through Junior or Direct Entry. If you’re under the maximum recruitment age you go through the full Sandhurst course and commission in as a 2nd Lt (Sir William was one of these, Richard Sharp also got a Battlefield commission to 2nd Lt so would have counted as Junior Entry in today’s system) and then do a full career as a Officer. An LE officer has to achieve senior rank as an Enlisted Soldier first (varies by Corps but typically Staff Sergeant or WO) and then is selected to be an LE, attends a shortened Sandhurst course and is returned to the Army as a Captain.
These late entry officers have historically been limited to technical jobs, Battalion Quartermaster or OC MT are stereo-typically “Late Entry Officer” jobs, because they’ve had decades of experience doing G4 as NCO’s, and a lot of command appointments, where young, motivated, fit DE officers where perceived to be better suited where off limits. I do not recall if there was a rank cap on LE’s (Graham might be able to recall better than me), but because LE’s tend to make Captain in their late 30’s or 40’s, while a DE Officer might be a captain in their early to mid 20’s, they typically “age out” before ever coming close to General Ranks, Lt Colonel seems to be the highest they normally get.
I’m aware and have met LEs that have attained L/Col, however, in today’s Army that seems to be the pinnacle of achievement and only a few make it that far; I think, possibly due to non-attendance at Staff College and desk based appointments in policy and procurement (can of beans there) L/Col is the summit they can achieve.
In MP, LE Capts and Majs were a dream to work for – they knew my job – far better than I knew it and on occasion would get their hands dirty; and they would always look after us, DEs were just a tad hooty and not people I enjoyed working for, but that is just my thoughts.
I am of course, also aware of pvts making General, iirc, in the Great War and possibly in WW2, but, the promotion system these days would, I would argue, predicate against that.
Mr Moore, Dern, thank you for your contributions.
I do remember calling a para Colonel a REMF, when I made Captain. Didn’t go down well!
Great answer Dern. I once worked for a LE Lt Col. I never met any of a higher rank but there may possibly have been a few. I had not heard of a rank ceiling for LE officers.