Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) Practical Leadership and Group Tasks Syllabus

Practical Leadership and Group Tasks syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Practical Leadership and Group Tasks in Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   The Command Tasks (Practical Leadership Tasks)

   5 topics

   • Structure of a command task serial
     • Brief, recce, plan, brief-back and execution phases
     • Use of helping resources (planks, spars, ropes, jerry cans)
   • The standard boundary, load and obstacle rules
   • Briefing your team clearly and delegating
   • Adapting the plan when it fails and re-cocking
   • Managing time, safety and morale during execution
2. 2

   The Group Planning Exercise (Planex)

   5 topics

   • Reading the scenario and information set
     • Map, distances, timings and resource constraints
     • Identifying the main problem and priorities
   • Individual written or silent planning phase
   • Group discussion to reach a collective plan
   • The questioning and changing-scenario phase
   • Speed-distance-time and simple logistics calculations
3. 3

   Leaderless Group Discussion

   4 topics

   • Contributing without dominating
   • Building on and challenging others constructively
   • Drawing out quieter candidates and chairing organically
   • Topical, ethical and military discussion themes
4. 4

   The Individual Obstacle Course and Assault Course

   3 topics

   • Negotiating obstacles safely and committedly
   • Scoring by points and prioritising under a time limit
   • Demonstrating drive, courage and physical robustness
5. 5

   The Lecturette (Individual Presentation)

   3 topics

   • Structure: introduction, body and conclusion
     • Choosing an engaging, knowledgeable topic
     • Signposting and timing to roughly five minutes
   • Verbal delivery, pace and eye contact
   • Handling questions from the board confidently

Practical Leadership and Group Tasks flashcards for Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB)

19 of 50 cards from the Practical Leadership and Group Tasks deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a "command task serial" at AOSB, and what are its core structural components?

   A timed practical leadership problem in which a nominated candidate leads the group to move people and/or equipment across an obstacle. Its structure is: a brief/scenario from the board, a set of rules (boundaries, loads, prohibited items), provided equipment, a start point and an end point, and a fixed time limit. The leader plans, briefs, executes and re-cocks as needed.

2. In a command task, what does the "boundary" rule typically prohibit?

   Boundaries (often marked by lines, tape or coloured areas) represent hazards such as water, electrified ground or minefields. No part of a person or piece of kit may touch the ground inside or beyond a boundary; touching it usually means that person/item must restart or incurs a penalty.

3. State the standard "load" rule in a command task.

   A nominated load (e.g. an oil drum, ammo box or jerrycan) must be carried across the obstacle without touching the ground or any out-of-bounds area. It may have additional constraints such as remaining upright, never being thrown, or always being in contact with at least one person.

4. What is the typical rule governing equipment (planks, ropes, barrels) in command tasks?

   Each item has a maximum span/use restriction: planks may not bridge a gap longer than their own length, ropes may not be anchored to fixed scenery, and equipment that touches an out-of-bounds area is "contaminated" and withdrawn from use. Equipment must never be left unattended in a boundary.

5. What does "re-cocking" mean in the context of a failing command task plan?

   Re-cocking is rapidly recovering and resetting after a plan fails or an error occurs: stop, pull the team and equipment back to a safe position, re-brief a revised plan, and re-attempt. It demonstrates composure and adaptability rather than stubbornly pushing a broken plan.

6. List the recommended sequence a leader should follow when running a command task serial.

   1) Read/absorb the brief and rules; 2) Appreciate the problem (ground, equipment, constraints, time); 3) Form a simple plan; 4) Brief the team clearly and delegate roles; 5) Execute while managing time, safety and morale; 6) Monitor, adapt and re-cock if it fails; 7) Complete within the time limit.

7. What are the four key elements of a clear task brief to your team?

   Situation (the problem and rules), Mission (what we must achieve), Execution (who does what, in what order), and Service/Safety (equipment, timings and safety points). A concise "who, what, where, when, how" delivered confidently before starting.

8. Why is delegation important for the leader's score in a command task?

   Because the board assesses leadership, not personal muscle. Delegating clear roles (anchor, carry, safety, timekeeper) shows the leader can organise others, frees the leader to direct and observe, and lets the whole team contribute, which is more effective and higher-scoring than the leader doing everything alone.

9. During execution of a command task, what three things must a leader continuously manage?

   Time (against the limit), Safety (no one injured, loads controlled, boundaries respected) and Morale (keeping the team encouraged, calm and engaged). Neglecting any one typically causes the task to fail or score poorly.

10. What is the first thing a candidate should do when handed a new scenario and information set?

    Read and absorb the whole information set carefully, identifying the aim, the constraints, the resources available and the key facts/figures, before forming any judgement. Misreading the brief is one of the most common and costly errors.

11. In a planning exercise, what is the "individual planning phase" and what is produced in it?

    A silent, individual phase in which each candidate reads the scenario and works out their own solution on paper, including a recommended course of action and supporting reasoning. It is typically followed by written answers to set questions and forms the basis for the later group discussion.

12. What is the purpose of the "group discussion to reach a collective plan" in a planning exercise?

    To produce a single agreed group solution by sharing individual plans, debating their merits, and reaching consensus. Candidates are assessed on contribution quality, reasoning, listening, persuading and helping the group reach a workable collective decision within the time limit.

13. What characterises the "questioning / changing-scenario" phase of a planning exercise?

    The board introduces new information or changes the situation and questions candidates individually, testing whether they can defend their reasoning, adapt their plan to fresh facts, and stay flexible under pressure. Candidates must update their solution logically rather than rigidly defending the old one.

14. State the speed-distance-time relationship and rearrange it for time.

    The relationship is $\text{speed} = \dfrac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}$. Rearranged: $\text{time} = \dfrac{\text{distance}}{\text{speed}}$ and $\text{distance} = \text{speed} \times \text{time}$.

15. A vehicle must cover $60\,\text{km}$ at an average speed of $40\,\text{km/h}$. How long does the journey take?

    $t = \dfrac{d}{v} = \dfrac{60}{40} = 1.5\ \text{hours} = 1\ \text{hour}\ 30\ \text{minutes}$.

16. A patrol marches $12\,\text{km}$ and must arrive by $14{:}00$. If they march at $4\,\text{km/h}$, what is the latest start time?

    Time required $= \dfrac{12}{4} = 3$ hours. Latest start $= 14{:}00 - 3{:}00 = 11{:}00$.

17. Convert a speed of $54\,\text{km/h}$ into metres per second.

    Multiply by $\dfrac{1000}{3600}=\dfrac{5}{18}$: $54 \times \dfrac{5}{18} = 15\ \text{m/s}$.

18. In a planning exercise logistics problem, how do you calculate the number of vehicles needed to move a quantity of stores?

    $\text{Vehicles} = \left\lceil \dfrac{\text{total load}}{\text{capacity per vehicle}} \right\rceil$ — divide the total to be moved by the capacity of one vehicle and round UP to the next whole number, since a partly filled trip still needs a whole vehicle.

19. If you have $1{,}300\,\text{kg}$ of stores and each truck carries $500\,\text{kg}$, how many trucks are required?

    $\left\lceil \dfrac{1300}{500} \right\rceil = \left\lceil 2.6 \right\rceil = 3$ trucks.

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