Admiralty Interview Board
The Admiralty Interview Board (AIB) is a key element of the officer selection process for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Agency overview
It is an equivalent of the Army Officer Selection Board and the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre of the Royal Air Force and has roots in a process first introduced in 1903.[1]
Formerly conducted as a two-day assessment process at HMS Sultan, the Board's operations moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Application process[edit]
Officer applicants for the Royal Navy undertake initial suitability testing and interviews at an Armed Forces Careers Office (AFCO).[3] All applicants complete a common recruitment test (RT) with varying score thresholds depending on branch, before having a formal 'sift' interview. RM applicants must also complete and pass the potential officers course (POC). RFA applicants conduct all career discussions and their sift interview at Portsmouth, rather than their local AFCO.
Once initial suitability has been assessed and a preferred specialisation identified, the candidate will be loaded onto a board. Successful completion of the board is a precursor to possible selection as a candidate for training.
The board is not itself competitive, with candidates being scored on their performance. The score is then used to select candidates for initial officer training.
Current format[edit]
Due to limitations imposed during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the AIB process has moved to a virtual format. The first stage sifts candidates using eight asymmetric interview questions, with the candidate recording a two-minute answer to each question; if successful, small groups of candidates undertake a virtual leadership exercise conducted over a video conference call. Fitness is not assessed as an element of the AIB.
These arrangements remain in place as of Winter 2023.
Outcome[edit]
Where a candidate has passed they may be offered a position immediately, or further selection may take place based on those candidates with the best scores over a number of boards. Where a candidate has passed but has not been selected, they may be offered an alternative branch (should there be shortages), or they may be invited to reattend AIB after 12 months when there may be more vacancies.
Where a candidate has not achieved a pass they may be invited back again (usually after a period of at least 6 months) if the board president believes the individual has future potential, or they may be advised that they should not return.
In all cases, candidates may only take part in an AIB at most three times.
All successful RN and RFA candidates who have passed AIB, have been selected, and have accepted the offer of employment then attend initial officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth; CTCRM Lympstone for successful RM candidates.