The first training home for Salvation Army officers in 1880 was a house in Hackney. Two years later training was transferred to the National Training Barracks in Clapton.

In 1929 the School for Officer Training was established here at Denmark Hill. Over the entire 120-year period of relocation and development in training methods, no changes have been as far reaching as those recently put in place.

To meet the demands of today's Salvation Army, two distinct schools have been created with the main residential officer training programme now validated as a diploma in Higher Education by the University of Gloucestershire. There is also a greater flexibility about the way training is delivered.

    Entry qualification. Candidates for officership must first be soldiers (members) over the age of 18 serving in Salvation Army corps. They must be committed to the Army's aims and purposes under the guidance of God the Holy Spirit. The process is deliberate and prayerfully conducted because this is a whole-life decision. For a fuller explanation of the process from first enquiry to final consideration by the Territorial Candidates Council, please read the Candidates Unit section by clicking here.

    Aim of training. The officer-training course is shaped to develop Christian leaders of integrity. Only those who feel a genuine love for people, have a clear vision for mission and spiritually-rooted convictions, who have gained relevant knowledge, understanding and appropriate skills, can be appointed as Salvation Army officers.

    Practical work. Alongside academic study, cadets (students) undertake placements and personal initiative projects in the community, including hands-on involvement in local hospitals, prisons and social centres.

    Personal development. Most importantly, the programme centres on the spiritual growth and mature development of each person. The school offers unique opportunities for self-assessment and shared understanding of the demands of ministry.

    Fellowship. All those involved in the School for Officer Training - staff, cadets and employees - contribute crucially to the training experience. The rich variety of experience, cultures, understanding and expressions of faith all add to the total training package. Each annual intake brings together youthful (sometimes livelier!) and more mature (sometimes wiser!) cadets. Everyone brings some special quality to this community in training - a rich interaction that equips new officers with the confidence to serve other communities at home and overseas.

The shape of the course

Cadets usually undertake a two-year residential course, year one at certificate level, year two at diploma level. The course is divided into four 'fields' of work and is subject to continuous assessment rather than formal examinations.

Field 1 - Personal Growth and Spiritual Development. This is given high priority and includes:

• understanding of basic spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation, belonging to the Body of Christ, community living and relationships;
• reflection on spiritual progress by personal interviews, written personal evaluations and periodic review;
• development of self-awareness by exploring leadership styles and spiritual gifts;
• understanding of spiritual leadership - vocation, covenant, servant leadership, vision;
• spiritual development through worship - in small groups, year groups and with the total campus family.

Field 2 - Biblical Studies. In year one, an introductory course to Old and
New Testaments. In year two:

• Old Testament - covenant, law and sacrifice, or the prophetic voice, or worship, wisdom and warnings.
• New Testament - Luke's Gospel and Acts, or Johannine literature or Pauline theology.

Field 3 - Faith & Practice. Covers Christian doctrine and the place of The Salvation Army in the context of the historical development of the Church in a pluralistic society.

Field 4 - Ministry & Mission. In year one, concentrates on three main areas:

• understanding people - basic counselling skills, life stages, pastoral visitation, bereavement;
• communicating with people - study skills and resources for preaching, teaching and leading worship;
• reaching people - studies in evangelism, church growth and church planting within a broad, biblically based study of the mission of the Church.

In year two:

• aspects of pastoral practice, management in practice, and mission in practice.

Placements

Putting cadets on placement gives their academic studies a practical dimension,
one which is fully integrated into the validated programme and the orientation
course. All placements include detailed evaluation reports and debriefing interviews
for reflection and goal-setting. Self-evaluation is a crucial aspect of this work.

Five placements are spread over the two-year residential training period,
giving opportunity for all courses to be tested and applied in ministry:

Placement 1. A one-week residential placement in a social services centre to observe the work of the officer and other workers.
Placement 2. A series of Sunday visits to corps. Priority areas are preaching and meeting leadership and, where appropriate, youth and young people's ministry.
Placement 3. A one-week residential stay at a corps alongside the commanding officer(s) in a controlled and monitored environment.
Placement 4. A period of three months spent in a corps or social placement between the first and second years of residential training.
Placement 5. A series of Sunday visits to corps or social service centres, working alongside experienced officers, and learning by participation.

The learning experience

Students' academic work is assessed mainly by assignments and personal reflection. Practical work is both self-assessed and discussed with observer tutors. Overall reviews and evaluations take place at term ends.
One-on-one. Students are encouraged to share course work difficulties with individual tutors and the Training Programme Director.
Study resources. College provides TV, videos, slide and tape presentation facilities, OHP and LCD projectors. The library stocks over 13,000 books and a selection of national and international magazines, papers, tapes and music scores on loan. IT provision includes free Internet access.

College timetable

Daily from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Freetime on Saturdays. Most classes and lectures are held in the morning, leaving afternoons mainly for self-directed study.

College year

The college year runs from the middle of September to Christmas, and from January to the end of July. Two brief half-term breaks are provided. Easter finds cadets in ministry at various Salvation Army corps in the United Kingdom (sometimes further abroad). Commissioning takes place at the end of July.