A well-crafted CV is often your first step towards securing a role in the armed forces. Whether you’re currently serving, a veteran, or transitioning to a civilian career, effectively showcasing your skills, discipline, and experience is key to standing out. Our CV examples and tips will guide you through creating a compelling job application that highlights your strengths and makes you an attractive candidate for any military or related role.

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    Armed forces CV examples

    Building a great armed forces CV is about more than just listing your duties; it’s about showcasing your leadership, adaptability, and the diverse skills you’ve gained through service. The armed forces, which include the British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy, play a vital role in protecting the UK, from combat and peacekeeping to humanitarian aid.

    Our armed forces CV examples are designed to help you effectively highlight your experience, skills and achievements. Whether you’re applying for a role within the military or transitioning to civilian life, these templates will help you every step of the way.

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    Winning templates for armed forces CV writing

    In this section, you’ll find the best CV templates tailored for armed forces jobs, whether you’re looking to transition to civilian life or advance in the military. These templates are designed to highlight your unique skills, experience, and leadership abilities.

    Armed forces CV template

    Well-structured and professional, this CV template is an excellent choice for those with a military background. The bold, military-inspired header and clean layout create a strong visual impact, while the clear Professional Summary, Work History, Skills, and Education sections ensure easy readability.

    The right-hand panel showcases contact details and skills, making it easier for recruiters to access relevant information quickly. Overall, this template balances clarity and professionalism, making it ideal for the transition from the armed forces to civilian roles.

    Blue CV template

    This template has a clean and professional layout with a blue colour scheme that conveys trust, stability, and discipline. The structured design allows for easy navigation, with clear headings and bullet points to highlight key information.

    The inclusion of a separate ‘Skills’ section highlights core competencies relevant to the armed forces, such as leadership, risk management and decision-making under pressure. This template is well suited to military personnel transitioning to new roles, as it maintains a formal and authoritative structure.

    Modern CV template

    This CV template features a bold and modern design, making it a strong choice for a military CV. The combination of black and red gives it a commanding and professional appearance, ideal for conveying strength and discipline. The structured layout ensures clear readability, with separate sections for personal details, professional summary, work history, skills, and education. The black header with white text adds a sharp, authoritative feel that fits well with military professionalism. This template would work well for ex-military personnel looking to transition into a civilian role while maintaining a strong and structured presentation.

    Take a look at our extensive library of CV templates to find inspiration for your own job application.

    How to write an armed forces CV step by step

    Building an army CV is more than just listing your duties. It’s about demonstrating your leadership, problem-solving skills and ability to work in high-pressure environments. Here are the key sections to include in your CV, as well as how to write each section to showcase your military experience.

    how to write armed forces cv

    STEP 1

    Provide your contact details

    Start your CV with a contact section. Include your full name, email address, telephone number, and location at the top of your CV page. Make sure you use a professional email address and that your contact details are up to date.

    Example contact section:

    Martin Jones
    84 Round Walk
    Glasgow G1 3GU
    martin.jones@example.com
    07912 345678

    STEP 2

    Write a compelling personal statement

    Your personal statement is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the recruiter. In this section, mention your career goals, relevant military experience, and what you’re looking for in your next role. If you’re transitioning to civilian life, you can also highlight your transferable skills and how you’re ready to apply them in a new context.

    Example personal statement:

    Dedicated and disciplined military professional with over 10 years of service in the British Army. Experienced in leading teams, managing complex operations, and adapting to diverse environments. Now seeking a leadership role in a civilian sector where my strategic thinking and problem-solving skills can drive operational success.

    STEP 3

    Describe your military experience

    The experience section is where you’ll showcase your roles, achievements, and responsibilities during your service. For each position, focus on what you accomplished and how you contributed to the success of your team or unit. Use bullet points to make your responsibilities and achievements clear and concise.

    Example:

    Team Leader, British Army
    May 2015 – Current

    • Led a team of 10 soldiers in operational environments, ensuring the completion of missions with 100% success rate.
    • Coordinated training and development of team members, increasing efficiency and readiness by 20%.
    • Managed logistics for deployment and operations, including equipment and personnel coordination.
    STEP 4

    List your skills

    Use this section to highlight both hard and soft skills. The military environment requires a wide range of skills, from technical proficiency to leadership and teamwork. You may wish to include skills such as conflict resolution, strategic planning, operational management, and specialised training.

    Example skills for an armed forces CV:

    • Leadership & Team Management
    • Decision Making Under Pressure
    • Crisis Management
    • Conflict Resolution
    • Military Strategy & Planning
    • Logistics & Operations
    STEP 5

    Highlight your qualifications

    Include any certifications, training, or formal education relevant to the armed forces or the job you’re applying for. Professional development courses and additional leadership training will be important for senior roles.

    Example:

    EDUCATION

    • NVQ Level 3 in Leadership & Management, 2022
    • Military Leadership Programme, Sandhurst, 2019

    CERTIFICATIONS

    • Combat First Aid, British Army, 2018
    • Counter-Terrorism Awareness, UK Ministry of Defence, 2020
    STEP 6

    Include additional information (optional)

    The additional information section is a great opportunity to highlight any volunteer work, awards, or other achievements that make you stand out. If you have relevant personal projects, memberships, or awards, this is the place to mention them.

    Example:

    AWARDS

    • Military Excellence Award, 2021
    • “Soldier of the Year”, 2020

    VOLUNTEERING

    • Volunteer at Armed Forces Charitable Trust

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