Army Officer Selection Board | |
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Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Garrison/HQ | Leighton House, Westbury |
Leighton House | |
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Located Near Westbury, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | |
Coordinates | 51°15′09″N 2°11′32″W / 51.252501°N 2.192197°W |
Type | Manor |
Site information | |
Owner | British Army |
Controlled by | British Army |
Site history | |
Built | 1800 |
Built by | Henry Phipps |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Army Officer Selection Board |
Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) is an assessment centre used by the British Army as part of the officer selection process for the Regular and Army Reserve and related scholarship schemes. It is an equivalent of the Admiralty Interview Board and the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre of the Royal Air Force. The board is based at Leighton House, Westbury in Wiltshire, England in a dedicated camp.
AOSB is commanded by the President AOSB, a Colonel in the British Army. The board president is supported by a number of vice-presidents.
The AOSB has its roots in the War Office Selection Boards (WOSBs) of World War II. The WOSBs were created by Army psychiatrists and established in 1942. They involved candidates taking a three day stay in a country house, where tests were administered including written tests of mental ability, questionnaires, Leaderless Group tests and interviews. Psychiatrists and some psychological components of the WOSBs were removed from the Boards after the war.
Applicants for the British Army undergo initial suitability assessments, through computer based tests and interviews, along a number of routes. All candidates will be required to attend AOSB at a point determined by the type of entry. Candidates for scholarship, Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College and professionally qualified officers will attend only one board, other entrants will be required to attend both a briefing board and a main board.
Candidates will have undertaken insight or familiarisation visits to appropriate units prior to attendance at the board.
All boards have a similar format, consisting of a range of academic, physical, mental and aptitude tests assessing suitability for future employment.