 There he enjoyed a number of sports and joined the Officer Training Corps, but later regretted that he studied little of English language or Classical studies, instead being placed in a specialised class that focused on the mathematical and scientific skills required for pupils to join the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.After studying at Sandhurst, Poett opted to join the Durham Light Infantry, and was gazetted as an officer into the regiment on 1 September 1927.In November 1927, Poett was posted with the regiment to Egypt, with his battalion being stationed at Mustapha Barracks on the outskirts of the city of Alexandria.