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Royal Military College - Duntroon is trialling a condensed 12-month program instead of a traditional 18-month format, in a bid to educate trainees to the same standards quicker.
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Officer trainees will receive the same training in a shorter format, according to Defence, as trainees meet the same graduation standards and qualifications, and graduate as lieutenants on completion of the course.
Commandant Land Combat College Brigadier Jason Groat said the 12-month officer commissioning program (OCP), being trialled from January 2024 to December 2025, marked a significant development in Army’s commitment to deliver an integrated force that meets the requirement to be simple, scalable and agile.
“As with all training, we will monitor and evaluate trainees throughout the program. If adjustments need to be made, we will make them,” BRIG Groat said.
The trial OCP will comprise six modules that include practical applications of leadership, command, foundation warfighting, and military planning.
It’s designed to enable the same initial foundation and leadership skills for all officers.
“As we reshape and contemporise our training approach to be more effective, the training will retain the same core performance elements and critical skills that are the mainstay of Army’s ab initio officer education pathway,” according to Commanding Officer RMC-D Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hickey.
The program design presents an opportunity to increase the speed to capability for service category (SERCAT) 7 generalist officers and inform a training design to benefit other SERCAT and training audiences.
LTCOL Hickey said the trial aimed to remove duplication by incorporating technology and new methods of instruction that are sources of efficiency and value for training systems and the receiving units.
On 1 July 2023, RMC-Australia and Combined Arms Training Centre aligned to become Land Combat College (LCC) with headquarters in both Canberra and Puckapunyal.
LCC is the single training authority that delivers foundational training and combat capabilities for land specialists.
In 2023, the Australian Defence Force opened an Indigenous yarning circle on the grounds of the Royal Military College at Duntroon in Canberra.
The circle is envisioned to provide a new space to bring together members of the ADF and the public with a deep and meaningful connection to the ACT’s Ngunnawal tradition.
A traditional smoking ceremony was held on 12 May 2023 for the official opening of the Duntroon space, attended by personnel from the three services, members of the Ngunnawal Tribe, and Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell.
Earlier this year, the Australian Defence Force engaged support for the ServeOn program for already employed military personnel to remain connected with Australian Army and embrace semi-retirement in a flexible role.
For members who are approaching or have reached the compulsory retirement age for full-time service, but are under 65, the program is expected to provide a flexible service role. For more information: www.army.gov.au/serveon.
