PARA Potential Officers Insight Course (POIC) / Officer Familiarisation Visit (OFV)

Following successful completion of the Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) Main Board (MB) candidates are invited to attend a PARA Potential Officers Insight Course (POIC). The POIC is similar to the MB and is run over 5 days at The Infantry Training Centre Catterick (ITC Catterick).

The POIC is designed to assess whether candidates have the potential to serve as an officer in the Parachute Regiment. Candidates are required to undergo a number of physical tests in which they are expected to show both mental and physical robustness, as well as a team task to evaluate their leadership potential.

Candidates are also set a timed essay and planning exercise. They are asked to participate in group discussions to assess both their knowledge of current affairs and how they think under pressure.

During the POIC candidates are interviewed on their motivation for joining the Parachute Regiment.

Throughout the course staff and instructors access and evaluate the candidates’ suitability as an officer in the Parachute Regiment, while offering advice and recommendations to improve the candidates chance of success during future training and selection at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) where all British Army Officers are initially trained.

POIC candidates are civilians or serving personnel. Serving personnel both regular or reservist can put themselves forward or may have been highlighted and encouraged by superiors.

Images are from the July 2013 POIC at Catterick. Due to very high temperatures the usual programme was adapted and timetables changed. However, the photos opposite give a good indication of what happens and what is expected.

This POIC course was stopped in 2023 and will be replaced with a similar course in the future. 

NB:Due to the role of some of the serving candidates their identities have been altered.