The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

29/10/2026

Before leadership comes discipline.

The first five weeks of Junior Term are where foundations are built.

Every drill, routine and lesson is designed to develop the habits that underpin effective leadership, resilience and self-discipline. Officer Cadets learn that maintaining the Army Values and Standards under pressure is not something that happens by chance, but through consistent practice every day.

Junior Term, Officer Cadets focus on mastering the fundamentals through skills, drills and routine. These early lessons build the habits, resilience and self-discipline that enable future officers to uphold the Army Values and Standards: Courage, Discipline, Respect for others, Integrity, Loyalty and Selfless Commitment.

It's an idea that dates back to Aristotle, who believed we become what we repeatedly do, that character is forged through repeated actions. Courage, discipline and resilience are not traits we're born with; they're qualities developed through action. That's why the basics matter.

CC263 are now applying those foundations in not just their daily routines but the exercises they attend.

28/10/2026

Deputy Commander Land Forces (DCLF) took time out of his busy schedule to visit Officer Cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, from Commissioning Course Short (CCS 263) as they undertook their first tactical exercise in the field.

Spending a night under a basher gave General John the opportunity to revisit memories of crisp, cold mornings in the field as the sun rose over the training area. The visit also provided a valuable opportunity to share breakfast and a brew with the Officer Cadets, gaining an insight into their journeys towards becoming future Regular and Reserve officers in the British Army, alongside International Officer Cadets developing skills to take back to their own armed forces.

Among those he met were two future military doctors sharing a basher, one British and one from Bali. Their conversation touched on adapting to the sharp change in temperature, the challenges of life in the field, and the importance of the buddy-buddy system, where looking out for one another remains essential to success and wellbeing during training.

Visits such as these offer senior leaders a valuable insight into the experiences of Officer Cadets as they develop the resilience, teamwork and leadership skills required of future officers.

28/10/2026

CCS 263 1st morning in field

Having commenced Module A of the Commissioning Course Short (CCS), less than two weeks earlier, Officer Cadets working towards a Professionally Qualified Officer commission (regular and reserve), Reserve or Specialist Reserve, have already undertaken their first field exercise and begun learning how to administer themselves under field conditions.

From cleaning and powdering their feet, washing, shaving and brushing their teeth, to cooking, making brews, and maintaining their weapon system, the exercise introduces the routines and standards required to operate effectively in the field. At this early stage, Officer Cadets learn the importance of only unpacking the equipment needed for each task, with training staff on hand to help establish good habits and best practice from the outset.

With just two weeks to develop these foundational skills, the learning curve is steep, particularly as many have never spent a night living in the field before. Having successfully passed an inspection confirming their administration and equipment were to the required standard, it was time to reapply the camouflage cream and move on to practising manoeuvring drills, building the confidence and competence required of future Army officers.

27/10/2026

How similar is your morning routine?

As part of their initial field training, Officer Cadets are taught and assessed on their ability to administer themselves in their woodland harbour area. For many Officer Cadets on Commissioning Course Short (CCS263), this is their first experience of spending the night under a basher.

Some aspects of the morning will feel familiar: brewing a hot drink, washing, brushing teeth and preparing breakfast. However, field life comes with added responsibilities. Throughout the morning, cadets must rotate through sentry duties (STAG), clean and maintain their ri**es, and ensure their feet are clean, powdered and fitted with fresh socks to help prevent injury.

Before moving off for the day, every cadet is inspected to ensure their personal administration and equipment meet the required standard, before reapplying camouflage cream and preparing for the next phase of training.

24/10/2026

Warfare is constantly evolving, and training at RMAS evolves with it. As emerging technologies continue to shape the modern battlefield, Officer Cadets must be prepared to adapt, innovate and lead in increasingly complex environments.

To reflect this reality, RMAS integrates Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) into training through a team of qualified drone operators from Gurkha Company Sittang (GCS), part of the Training Support Unit. Supporting the majority of Intermediate and Senior Term field exercises, these operators provide capabilities to both friendly and opposing forces, creating a more realistic and challenging training environment.

By exposing Officer Cadets to the opportunities and threats posed by drones, RMAS develops leaders who can think on their feet, solve problems under pressure and make effective decisions on the modern battlefield. Integrating contemporary warfare challenges into training ensures tomorrow's officers are prepared to fight, adapt and win in a rapidly changing world.

23/10/2026

Maximum Effort and Treamwork
The 44-week Regular Commissioning Course is defined by demanding challenges that test determination, resilience and teamwork. Among the most iconic is the Log Race, a gruelling event held during the Intermediate Term at RMAS that pushes Officer Cadets to their physical and mental limits.

Success in the Log Race is not measured by individual performance, but by the collective strength of the platoon. Every member must finish together, with time penalties awarded for those unable to continue, falling behind the logs, requiring staff assistance, or failing to meet the strict standards of the competition. With a 2 min mandatory water stop, heavy wooden and metal logs to carry, and minimum manning levels that must be maintained throughout, the event demands relentless teamwork, determination and mutual support from start to finish.

Rising to the challenge, 30 Platoon from CC262 delivered an outstanding performance, claiming first place with a final time of 47 minutes and 29 seconds to complete the 4.6 mile cross country route. Their victory was a testament to the leadership, resilience and team spirit that lie at the heart of officer training.

23/10/2026

09/10/2026

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) Training Support Unit (TSU) regularly takes the opportunity to challenge itself, maintaining the physical fitness, resilience, and teamwork that underpin the Academy's success.

This year, TSU entered four teams into Exercise Trailwalker, a military charity endurance event that sees participants trek 100 km across the South Downs Way. Representing a range of departments from across the Academy, competitors demonstrated the same determination and commitment that they bring to supporting Officer Cadet training every day.

Teams included personnel from 44 Squadron, responsible for transport and logistics support across the Academy; Combined Arms Manoeuvre (CAM) Wing, which oversees risk to life activities such as live firing, and provides specialist instruction in marksmanshio, fieldcraft and communications essential to training delivery; and Gurkha Company Sittang (GCS), whose soldiers provide opposing force support on field exercises while also delivering trained operators for both drones and uncrewed ground vehicles.

Their efforts produced some impressive results. The GCS team finished 42nd out of 175 military teams, while the 44 Squadron team placed 86th in the same category. Most notably, the 44 Squadron relay team secured 1st place out of 14 relay entries, an outstanding achievement in a highly demanding event.

Whether supporting training behind the scenes or tackling challenges far beyond the Academy gates, these teams continue to demonstrate the professionalism, endurance, and teamwork that are at the heart of RMAS.

08/10/2026

While Lucknow platoon is never a planned part of an Officer Cadets journey through the academy, it does provide a place for those who are unfortunate enough to sustain an injury on course, the opportunity to brush up on the skills and drills that will propel them to high attainment when they return to the course.⁠
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Weeks 1-5 of this term have seen the platoon return to their training, with the mornings reserved for their physical rehabilitation, the afternoons are filled with various training exercises drawn from different phases of the commissioning course. ⁠
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Recent weeks had a focus on navigation, range card usage, urban operations, drone in industry, and the orders process. Members of the platoon have diligently worked to enhance their physical and mental capabilities, preparing themselves to thrive when they rejoin the course.⁠
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This is how we shape the combat ready leaders of tomorrow.⁠
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07/10/2026

While CC263 rehearsed for their Week 5 Pass Off the Square assessment, RMAS also welcomed members of Intake 17, who arrived at Sandhurst in March 1955 and commissioned in July 1956. Now all in their 90s, these distinguished gentlemen received a briefing on how today's Commissioning Course is delivered and enjoyed the opportunity to revisit archived photographs from their time at the Academy. They were also able to review their original individual course reports, providing a fascinating link between generations of Army officers separated by more than 70 years of Sandhurst history.