What is there in the lance corporals test?

Answer 1

In British Army Infantry Regts those recommended for promotion to Lance Corporal must pass a L/Cpl "Cadre" run by battalions; not to be confused with the Junior and Senior NCO promotion courses run by the School of Infantry, called "Junior" and "Senior Brecon" - after the School of Infantry's "Battle School" at Brecon, South Wales. Other arms of service run similar "cadres", varying in length/ intensity.

Infantry battalion L/Cpl "cadres" typically last 4-6 weeks, and comprise thorough revision of all essential infantry skills (eg weapons, tactics and fieldcraft etc) plus "core" soldier skills (eg personal admin, drill, army knowledge and values, first aid, navigation, signals, NBC etc): basically a revision of basic training, conducted at a very fast pace, with lots of intensive PT thrown in as a "sickener". It's designed to "test the mettle" of potential L/Cpls; ensure that essential knowledge and skills are sound, but above all, there's continual emphasis on teaching and leading others.

In theory, any soldier recommended for promotion should be able to pass; in reality, anything between 10-25% do not. There may be physical fitness "issues", but more commonly failure results from the inability of some to adapt to the demands of being in charge of/ responsible for others; some who are very good at doing stuff themselves simply can not cope with having to teach others how to do likewise.

"Junior Brecon" (Corporal's Course) and "Senior Brecon" (Platoon Sergeant's Battle Course) are in a different ballpark altogether, lasting 8 and 12 weeks respectively, they're real grinders, generally reckoned to be the toughest courses in the Army apart from Special Forces Selection. Prospective Corporals must show competence/ fitness to lead/ command a section ("squad") of 8-10 men, but also, if necessary, to take over as Platoon Sergeant. Prospective Infantry sergeants are not only expected to demonstrate the capability to "run" a platoon (in terms of both tactical leadership and general admin/ soldier welfare), but also, if necessary to take command of a full company, and "fight" it as part of a "Battle Group".