Cyber Direct Entry Scheme
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-25)

The Cyber Direct Entry Scheme offers an accelerated path into military cyber roles.

Overview

Cyber Direct Entry offers an accelerated path into military cyber roles for those with verifiable aptitude or experience in Cyber, enhancing the UK’s response to increasing cyber threats.

Tailored training programmes focus on essential skills for operating in cyberspace. Traditional medical and fitness standards are not our immediate concern. We are able to apply for waivers to the normal entry standards to meet our requirement.

We recognise that cyber talent crosses all identities and benefits from a diverse workforce. Therefore, we encourage applications from all sections of society.

It is well known that the cyber sector has a workforce including a substantial percentage of neurodivergent people. We embrace neurodiversity and recognise that neurodiverse people can often see what others cannot.

Formal qualifications and training are not necessarily required, if you can demonstrate your skills and passion for cyber, we want to hear from you. Successful applicants will be fast tracked into operational cyber roles.

Benefits

This scheme offers individuals with the interest and aptitude the opportunity to contribute to the defence of the UK in cyberspace.

Starting salaries are over £40,000, with the potential to earn up to an additional £25,000 in skills pay. This is in addition to pay increases from promotions and time served.

Cyber operators recruited through this scheme will not be required to serve in dangerous environments and there is no weapons handling involved however there may be opportunities to deploy overseas later in careers depending on individual preferences and circumstances.

Throughout their service, direct cyber entrants will enjoy the unique benefits of a career in the armed forces including medical and dental care, an excellent pension scheme, subsidised accommodation and food, access to gyms and sports facilities, adventure training, and ongoing professional education and development.

Direct entry process

Applications are made through the Royal Navy (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles/cyber-operative), Army (https://jobs.army.mod.uk/roles/royal-signals/) and Royal Air Force (https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/cyber-operator).

Successful applicants will undergo shortened initial military training before receiving specialist cyber training.

Upon completion of training, cyber roles will be available across the UK including at the Defence Cyber & Electromagnetic Force HQ at MOD Corsham in Wiltshire and the future National Cyber Force HQ in Samlesbury, Lancashire.

Successful applicants will join on an advanced base rank with potential for promotions and additional skills-based pay increases in future. Due to the specific nature of this scheme, applicants should not expect to be able to transfer to other, more traditional roles, or to commission as an officer.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted via the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force websites. The entry standards are the same whether applying through the Royal Navy, Army or the Royal Air Force, and all applicants will be assessed by the same selection panel.
- Royal Navy (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles/cyber-operative)
- Army (https://jobs.army.mod.uk/roles/royal-signals/)
- Royal Air Force (https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/cyber-operator)
Roles and career progression will be the same regardless of service of application. The only differences will be in the initial training course and the uniform worn.