Editing British Army (section)

== Recruitment ==
{{Main|Recruitment in the British Army}}
[[File:30a Sammlung Eybl Großbritannien. Alfred Leete (1882–1933) Britons (Kitchener) wants you (Briten Kitchener braucht Euch). 1914 (Nachdruck), 74 x 50 cm. (Slg.Nr. 552).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=World War I recruiting poster, with Lord Kitchener pointing at the viewer|One of the most recognisable recruiting posters of the British Army; from [[World War I]], with [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]]]]
The British Army primarily recruits from within the United Kingdom, but accept applications from all British citizens. It also accepts applications from Irish citizens and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] citizens, with certain restrictions.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/can-i-join|title=Army entry requirements: Can I join the Army? – British Army Jobs |website=apply.army.mod.uk}}</ref> Since 2018 the British Army has been an equal-opportunity employer (with some legal exceptions due to medical standards), and does not discriminate based on race, religion or sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite web|title=The British Army – Diversity|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/join/Equality-and-diversity.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212094121/http://www.army.mod.uk/join/Equality-and-diversity.aspx|archive-date=12 February 2017|access-date=11 February 2017|website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref> Applicants for the Regular Army must be a minimum age of 16, although soldiers under 18 may not serve in operations, and the maximum age is 36. Applicants for the Army Reserve must be a minimum of 17 years and 9 months, and a maximum age of 43. Different age limits apply for Officers and those in some specialist roles. Applicants must also meet several other requirements, notably regarding medical health, physical fitness, past-criminal convictions, education, and regarding any tattoos and piercings.<ref name=":5" />

Soldiers and officers in the Regular Army now enlist for an initial period of 12 years, with options to extend if they meet certain requirements. Soldiers and officers are normally required to serve for a minimum of 4 years from date of enlistment and must give 12 months' notice before leaving; soldiers who joined before the age of 18 years old are normally required to serve for a minimum of 6 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/TermsofService.pdf|title=British Army Terms of Service|date=April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623005208/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/TermsofService.pdf|archive-date=23 June 2017}}</ref>

=== Oath of allegiance ===
All soldiers and commissioned officers must take an oath of allegiance upon joining the Army, a process known as attestation. Those who wish to swear by [[God in Abrahamic religions|God]] use the following words:<ref name=":2" />
{{blockquote|I, [soldier's or commissioned officer's name], swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to [[Charles III|His Majesty King Charles III]], his heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, his heirs and successors in person, [[British Crown|crown]] and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, his heirs, and successors and of the generals and officers set over me.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whodareswins.com/british-army-oath-of-allegiance.html#selfless|title=British Army Oath of Allegiance|access-date=29 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224084204/http://www.whodareswins.com/british-army-oath-of-allegiance.html#selfless|archive-date=24 December 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm".<ref name=":2" />

=== Training ===
[[File:RMAS18Je6-4685.jpg|thumb|alt=Red-brick buildings with large windows|New College buildings at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]

{{see also|Selection and Training in the British Army|List of British Army installations}}Candidates for the Army undergo common training, beginning with [[Recruit training|initial military training]], to bring all personnel to a similar standard in basic military skills, which is known as Phase 1 training. They then undertake further specialist trade-training for their specific Regiment or Corps, known as Phase 2 training. After completing Phase 1 training a soldier is counted against the Army's trained strength, and upon completion of Phase 2 are counted against the Army's fully trained trade strength.<ref name=boot>{{cite web|url=http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0139.html|title=Recruitment Selection and Training|publisher=Bootcamp|access-date=23 November 2020|archive-date=21 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421050944/http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0139.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Soldiers under the age of 17 and six months will complete Phase 1 training at the [[Army Foundation College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24420.aspx|title=Army Foundation College Harrogate|last=British Army|date=n.d.|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> Infantry Soldiers will complete combined Phase 1 & 2 training at the [[Infantry Training Centre (British Army)|Infantry Training Centre, Catterick]], whilst all other Soldiers will attend Phase 1 training at the [[Army Training Centre Pirbright]] or [[Army training regiment|Army Training Regiment, Winchester]], and then complete Phase 2 training at different locations depending on their specialism.<ref name=boot/> Officers conduct their initial training at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] (RMAS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/joining-process/officer-recruitment-steps|title=Joining the Army as an Officer; British Army – British Army Jobs|website=apply.army.mod.uk}}</ref> before also completing their Phase 2 training at multiple different locations.<ref name=boot/>