Non-commissioned officers and other ranks

You can apply to join the army through an HM Forces Serviceperson Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

You apply directly to the army to find the best apprenticeship route for you. This will depend on your qualifications and which service role you're interested in, for example, engineering, health or logistics.

You can join the Army Reserve to get experience of what life is like in the regular army. You'll also learn new skills at the same time.

You'll need to:

• be aged between 18 and 43
• commit to at least 27 days a year, though this can fall to 19, if you apply for a specialist unit
• attend a 2-week training camp each year

If you're between 12 and 18 years old, you can join the Army Cadet Force.

You can apply directly to join the army. You do not need any specific qualifications unless you're applying for a technical role like engineering or communications.

You'll also need to be:

• aged between 16 and 36
• physically fit

If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local army careers centre about the opportunities available to you. You'll then attend a 2-day assessment, which includes medical and fitness tests.

You'll find more information about becoming a soldier from Army Careers.

You could apply to join the marines through an HM Forces Serviceperson Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

You'll apply directly to the marines to find the best apprenticeship route for you. This will depend on your qualifications and which service role you're interested in.

You can join the Royal Marines Reserve to get some experience of what life is like in the service and to learn new skills at the same time. You'll do the same commando training as the regulars, but over a longer period.

If you're between 13 and 18 years old, you can join the Royal Marines Cadets.

You can apply directly to join the Royal Navy as a commando. You don't need any specific qualifications, but you will need to meet the navy's eligibility requirements. For example, you must:

• be aged between 16 and 32
• be at least 145cm tall
• pass fitness tests

If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You will then do the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) followed by an interview.

If you have the right skills, you'll be asked to attend the 3-day Candidate Preparation Course. This includes further interviews, fitness, medical and aptitude tests. If successful, you'll be offered a place at the commando training centre at Lympstone in Devon.

You could apply to join the navy through an HM Forces Serviceperson Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

You'll apply directly to the navy to find the best apprenticeship route for you. This will depend on your qualifications and which service role you're interested in.

You can join the Royal Naval Reserves to get some experience of what life is like in the service, and to learn new skills at the same time.

You'll need to be:

• between the ages of 16 and 42
• able to commit to basic training, including a 2-week course at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall

If you're between 12 and 18 years old, you can join the Sea Cadets.

You can apply directly to join the Royal Navy as a rating. You don't need any specific qualifications, but you will need to meet the navy's eligibility requirements. For example, you must:

• be aged between 16 and 39
• pass fitness and medical tests

After applying, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You will then do the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) followed by an interview.

If you have the right skills, you'll be asked to attend the 4-day Pre-Royal Navy Course. This includes further interviews, fitness, medical and aptitude tests. If successful, you'll be offered a place on the navy's basic training programme.