History

The History of the Australian Command and Staff College

Prior to the establishment of the Australian Command and Staff College in 2001 middle management officer Command and Staff training (at the MAJ (E) level) was conducted at separate single Service staff colleges. The Army Command and Staff course was conducted at Fort Queenscliff in Victoria, the RAAF Staff Course at RAAF Fairbairn in the ACT and the RAN Staff Course at HMAS PENGUIN in Sydney NSW.

The Military After Next (the Price Report) and the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) first raised the issue of rationalisation of officer education and collocation of staff colleges in 1995/96. The Defence Efficiency Review (March 1997) supported such a collocation as an efficiency and cost saving measure.

Several sites for the new facility were considered and in November 1998 the Minister for Defence confirmed the decision to establish the new facility at Weston Creek in the ACT. On 08 December 1999 Parliament approved the construction of the ACSC building and associated infrastructure at a cost of $28m.

Construction began in early 2000 and the first course of 180 students arrived in January 2001. Between 2001 and 2005 the ACSC enjoyed an academic partnership with the University of Canberra. The initial curriculum offered course members with a diverse and challenging program, preparing graduates for a wide range of employment throughout the Australian Defence Organisation. The collocation of the three previous Service Colleges provided a comprehensive military education within a collaborative joint environment. In 2006 the ACSC will embark on an educational partnership with the University of New South Wales to continue to provide course members with a diverse and demanding education in a joint environment.

RAAF Staff College History

Before World War II, RAAF officers selected for staff training attended the RAF Staff College at Bracknell in the United Kingdom. The outbreak of war and the rapid expansion of the RAAF halted this arrangement. A decision was then taken to provide training in Australia for potential staff officers and for those who already held staff appointments. Consequently, the RAAF Staff School was established at Mount Martha, Victoria, and No 1 War Staff Course commenced on Tuesday, 18 September 1943.

The first Commandant, Air Vice-Marshal W.H. Anderson, CBE, DFC, was given policy guidance to the effect that the course should be based on, and maintain the standard of, the War Staff Course of the RAF Staff College. Such modifications as considered necessary to meet local organisation and south-west pacific theatre operational requirements were to be incorporated.

On 15 February 1949, the RAAF Staff College (RAAFSC) was formed. The initial cadre of staff, comprising the Commandant (Air Commodore U.E. Ewart), three officers and six other ranks, was accommodated in temporary facilities at Albert Park Barracks, Melbourne. The initial planning included a move to RAAF Base Point Cook before the start of the first course.

No 1 Staff Course, comprising 15 officers of Squadron Leader rank, was welcomed to the College at Point Cook on 14 June 1949. RAAFSC remained at Point Cook until the end of 1960 when it was transferred to RAAF Base Fairbairn.

The final course No 53, graduated in 2000, marking the end of 51 years of successful RAAF Staff College operation.


RAN Staff Course History

The Royal Australian Navy, officially formed in 1911, had its genesis in the Royal Navy and for many years a significant amount of professional officer training was conducted in the United Kingdom. Staff training was an example of this, with RAN officers regularly proceeding to England to undertake the Royal Navy Staff Course at Greenwich Naval College. Additionally, officers would occasionally attend at other overseas Staff Colleges (eg. India, USA), and from the early 1960’s onward, would frequently undertake staff training at the RAAF and Army Staff Colleges.

During the 1970’s a concerted effort to repatriate RAN officer training to Australia was undertaken. One such activity under consideration was Staff training and subsequently in June 1978 the Minister for Defence, The Hon D.J. Killen, MP, gave approval for the establishment of the Royal Australian Naval Staff College (RANSC) at HMAS PENGUIN in Sydney.

With the long term aim of producing about 45 trained staff officers per year for the RAN, the College was officially opened on 15 January 1979 by the Chief of Naval Personnel, Rear Admiral G.R. Griffiths, AO, DSO, DSC, RAN. The first course, under the charge of the Director, CAPT N. Ralph, AM, DSC, RAN, and four Directing Staff, was comprised of 14 RAN officers.

In the 44 courses conducted RANSC has provided valuable training to 675 RAN, 84 Army, 74 RAAF, 162 Foreign and 73 APS officers (1068 personnel in all). Foreign students have attended from Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, USA and Vanuatu.
Since 1997, RANSC has operated in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) providing Tertiary education in Management related subjects. This has resulted in the award of the internationally recognised Graduate Certificate in Management or Graduate Diploma of Business Administration. Of the 232 students covered under the QUT program, approximately 80 have elected to continue their studies towards a Masters of Business Administration with the university.

Course 44, the last course conducted under single service auspices, graduated in December 2000, thus bringing to a close a successful 22 years of RANSC operation.


History of the Army Staff College

On 8 July 1938, the Command and Staff School was officially opened in Sydney. Twenty-nine Major Generals, Brigadiers, and Colonels attended the first course of one-week duration.
In October 1940 the Command and Staff School moved to Duntroon, ACT. The School had its own training staff and was responsible to Army Headquarters. The first courses conducted at Duntroon were of 12 weeks duration.

On 15 April 1942 the School renamed as the Staff School (Australia). It was amalgamated with the Royal Military College under the one command. In August 1942 the School was divided into two wings: the Senior Wing for Grade 1 appointments; and the Junior Wing for Grade 2 appointments.

At the end of World War II, the Federal Government decided to increase the strength of the post-war Regular Army and Cabinet gave approval for the establishment of a Staff College in Australia. On 27 February 1946, the Staff School (Australia) was re-named the Australian Staff College. Authority was given to raise the College and to locate it at Fort Queenscliff. Because the Fort was not ready for immediate occupation, a temporary home was found for the College, in June 1946, at the School of Infantry, Seymour Victoria. On 26 October 1946, the advance party of the College arrived at Fort Queenscliff and the first staff course to be conducted at the new College began in January 1947.

An officer from the Indian Army attended No 10 Course of the Staff School. Other overseas representation at the Australian Staff College began in 1948 when two officers from the United Kingdom and one from Canada attended. Since then, students from Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, United Arab Emirate, United Kingdom, and the United States have attended. At least one student from the RAAF and one from the Australian Public Service have attended almost all Courses since 1952. A total of 1788 students had graduated from the Australian Staff College at Fort Queenscliff by December 1981.

Only in November 1979, after much thought and discussion, was it decided that the Australian Army Staff College would have a permanent home at Fort Queenscliff.

On 1 January 1982, the College was renamed the Command and Staff College. This reflected the new aim of the Course which included both command and staff aspects. New support facilities were opened at Crow’s Nest Barracks in 1985 and work began in 1986 on the new instruction block at Fort Queenscliff.

On 29 January 1988, the new Military Instructional Facility (MIF) was officially opened by the then Chief of the General Staff (CGS). The MIF features a lecture hall, a model room, syndicate rooms, computer centre, and library. Major rebuilding of the Officers Mess and Mess Accommodation was completed in mid-1990. By December 1996, 1224 officers had graduated from the Command and Staff College.

The last course conducted under single service auspices, graduated in December 2000, thus bringing to a close a successful 62 years of Command and Staff College operation.