Melbourne Officer Career Manager
OCM Goals
Goals of APA Melbourne's Officer Career Management Section are:
- Provide career advice to officers by establishing contact with them at least once a year.
- PARs (ensure each officer has a report raised on him/her)
- Draft corps posting plans
- Bid for non-corps appointments
- Plan career milestones (course attendance, key appointments, etc)
- Provide expert comments for PAC, posting and selection processes
- Give APA-M presentations to Training Establishments
- Ensure that the information on corporate databases PMKeyS for each officer is accurate.
FAC
The increase in operational tempo over the last decade has seen an increasing number of reservists deployed on operations. The Army Reserve (ARes) officer of the future will require a sound foundation of training to prepare for their first appointment in the Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) and for progression through the officer New training for Army Reserve officers training continuum. Therefore, at the Army General's Day in August 2006, Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy, directed a review of Army Reserve officer training known as the Army Reserve General Service Officer First Appointment Course (ARes GSO FAC).
The existing course was considered to be complex, with 10 modules totaling 143 days of residential training plus non-residential, non-continuous training at regional University Regiments. After graduation, newly appointed ARes officers were required to complete an additional module of training, before attending their Corps Officer Basic course. Some graduates were taking over three years to complete their training with attrition rates exceeding 50 per cent over the duration of the course.
The new ARes GSO FAC tailors training to the endorsed ARes role and tasks in the HNA, reduces time spent in residential training, addresses trainee attrition and reduces the requirement for external support for the conduct of the course. The new course will instil Army's values in a similar fashion to soldier basic training and then provide junior officer candidates with the leadership, operational skills and knowledge required of a junior commander within the ARes. The operations component of the course will produce an all-corps ARes platoon commander capable of leading soldiers on peace and security operations. The training component will provide the basic knowledge necessary to allow ARes officers to organise and conduct training within units. Management training will provide the basic knowledge to enable junior officers to manage soldiers and conduct basic sub-unit governance activities.
The new ARes GSO FAC is a five module course totalling 104 days with the first module delivering the 28-day foundation package. This module will be delivered at the Army Recruit Training Centre (ARTC), Kapooka, either in allocated platoons or in conjunction with existing individual panelling procedures. Modules two, three and four are of 16 days duration each and are delivered to national panels in regional centres of expertise. The final 28 day module will be delivered at RMC. The concept allows for multiple entry points to the foundation module and two graduation points each year in February and July.
Applicaition For Commissioning (In-Service Personnel)
In-Service Army Officer applications
The process of In-Service Officer applications can be broken into two systems. The first being any application involving transfer to or from the Reserve to the ARA, these are processed as per the documentation requirements below. APA-M checks the application and forwards to DFR when complete.
The other process is when it involves only transfers within the Reserves. This includes transfers as a DEO or OCDT these applications are to be sent direct to APA-M. APA-M will register and staff check prior to sending to DFR for further action.
Should the application be incomplete in any way, the Transaction Staff at APA-M will advise the unit and continue to follow.
Documentation:
The following documentation is required to process an in-service application:
- PE 063 - with all sections completed (section 8 N/A) and SIGNED
- Certified true copies of year 11 and 12 school results
- Certified true copies of Personnel file (AR163)
- PR014 - Commanding officers report
- Certified true copies of Tertiary results (if held)
- PMKeyS print of AIRN status
- PKMeyS print of conduct record (even if blank)
- ADO Service log / print out
- Medical assessment - PM532
- Any other supporting documentation
Note: Documents from the Personnel file (AR163) should be any document that will assist in assessing the member's suitability for commissioning.
A check list has been produced to assist units compile the relevant documentation and is provided as a PDF file.
Please use this check list and ensure all documents are attached and correct and SIGNED prior to sending to APA-M. This will ensure that the members are not disadvantaged due to incomplete applications.
In-Service Check list 
Melbourne Contacts Page