Last week 28 international officer cadets successfully completed their Pre-Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) course at the Defence Academy.
Representing 21 countries from across the globe, including Kuwait, Slovenia and Turkmenistan, the latest graduating cohort continue a legacy of international leadership development by the British Army that spans over two centuries.
The course equips overseas officer cadets with the foundational skills required for success at RMAS and reflects the UK's enduring commitment to foster global defence partnerships and serve as a vital bridge between cultures, languages, and military traditions.
Taught at the Defence Centre for Languages and Culture (DCLC), Pre-RMAS consists of two phases:
The initial 10-week long Phase A introduces officer cadets to British military ethos and cultural norms. This includes preparing them for the rigors of RMAS through:
- military focused English language development in listening, speaking, reading, and writing
- drill
- navigation
- leadership
- concentrated physical training
Course members also benefited from cultural visits to Warwick, Portsmouth, Blenheim Palace and the Britannia Royal Naval College.
Phase B (lasting three weeks) offers additional opportunities to refine and consolidate the skills developed in Phase A. Cadets develop their navigation skills, undertake combat estimate and planning exercises, gain deeper understanding of British military values and standards, as well as the use of military colloquialisms. A dinner night completes the phase, as further introduction to British military custom.
Speaking at the passing out parade, Inspecting Officer, Brigadier Mark Beynon said:
“The Defence Academy’s Pre-RMAS programme is an excellent preparatory course; I know from experience as a Defence Attaché how it sets overseas cadets for success in their year at Sandhurst. By fostering mutual respect, cultural awareness, and shared values, the programme lays the groundwork for enduring international cooperation. The cadets’ experience here and at Sandhurst will be transformative and will shape many of them into future leaders in their home countries’ armed forces.”
OCdt Romero from Uruguay, who won the prize for overall excellence said:
“I feel so happy as we’ve all reached the end of the course. Albeit challenging, given that it was in a different language and the weather was also so different, I feel like I’ve achieved all my goals with the help of my course mates and my instructors. I’m so happy to have won the overall excellence award – it means so much to me.”
Individual award winners:
- Overall Top Cadet: OCdt Romero, Uruguay
- Best in English: OCdt Zamboni, Bosnia
- Best in Physical Fitness: OCdt Medini, Tunisia
- Best Morale: OCdt Al Hammadi, Yemen
- Most Improved in English: OCdt Batyrov, Turkmenistan
- Most Improved Overall: OCdt Abdykhassym, Kazakhstan
- Officer Cadets’ ‘Officer Cadet’: OCdt Medini, Tunisia
DCLC is part of the Defence Academy’s International Group, delivering language, culture, and diplomacy education at home and overseas, equipping military personnel and civil servants with the skills needed for successful operations, leadership, and government.