A soldier training at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been told he cannot retake the mandatory test to become an Army officer after failing it twice, with an assessment branding him 'polite but intellectually challenged', an employment tribunal has heard.
The Childhood Dream Denied
Officer Cadet Keelan Swords, 25, described it as his 'childhood dream' to graduate as a commissioned officer from the world-renowned academy, attended by Prince William and Prince Harry. However, that ambition has been halted after he failed the Army Officer Selection Board Assessment (AOSB) on two separate occasions: once in August 2022 and again in October 2023.
The tribunal in Reading heard that after the second failure, OCdt Swords was informed he could not attempt the test a third time. The AOSB is a compulsory assessment for all prospective officers, designed to evaluate core 'writing, reading and numeracy skills' in a single, standardised format.
Academic Success Versus Standardised Testing
The tribunal was presented with evidence of OCdt Swords's strong academic record, which stands in stark contrast to the AOSB's conclusions. He achieved two A* grades and a B at A Level in politics, geography and history at Colfe's School in Greenwich. He later obtained a 2:1 BA Hons degree in History with Politics and International Relations from Northeastern University in London.
OCdt Swords, who has dyslexia, argued that the psychometric test took an unjustifiably narrow view of his intellect. He highlighted that throughout his education, he had received reasonable adjustments for exams, including additional time, use of a calculator, a laptop for notes, and extra paper. He contended that similar adjustments during the AOSB would have been 'reasonable' and posed a 'negligible' risk to combat effectiveness.
Service Complaint and Tribunal Outcome
Deeply affected by the 'intellectually challenged' comment, OCdt Swords said he was left feeling 'upset' and 'embarrassed' at Sandhurst, where he continues to work. In a service complaint, he stated the label had 'undermined all of his academic and Military achievements' and taken away his lifelong ambition.
He initiated legal proceedings against the Ministry of Defence, claiming disability discrimination and harassment related to his dyslexia. However, Employment Judge Sarah George dismissed the claim. The tribunal ruled it did not have jurisdiction to hear the case because equality law contains an exclusion for service within the Armed Forces.
The judge acknowledged that being blocked from becoming an officer had damaged his social and professional reputation. Despite this, the claim was struck out. OCdt Swords, who could not be reached for comment, remains employed at Sandhurst. A neighbour described him as a 'fantastic person'.
