Fallon meets Potential Army Officers

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon met with students on the Army's Potential Officer Development Programme (PODP), as part of their intensive 12-week development programme.

The potential officers had the opportunity to meet and put questions to the Defence Secretary during a question and answer session at the MOD Main Building in London.

The PODP supports serving soldiers and direct entry civilian candidates by equipping participants with the skills necessary to pass the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB). On completion of the programme, students will attend the AOSB to determine whether they are suitable for commissioning. If successful at this stage, they will then go on to begin Officer Cadet training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

In welcoming the students to the Ministry of Defence, Fallon said: “Our Armed Forces are held in high esteem, and recent events have shown that in difficult times people look to us for support. And in such challenging times, it will be vitally important that our future leaders are thinking soldiers, capable and able to adjust to and overcome those threats which come against us. We need the best people of each successive generation. You’ve got what it takes to be our future leaders, and I look forward to you not just making it to Sandhurst but spearheading our nation’s charge towards a brighter future.”