Cpl Gareth Molnar, Army Dive Wing, instructs his section in Colour drill while undergoing assessment on the challenging promotion course.

Colour drill is among the many competencies corporals must master on Subject One for Sergeant before they can step up to the senior ranks. Photo by Cpl Alisha Carr 1JPAU(P)

Training for the future

HEADQUARTERS Regional Training Centres (HQ RTC) is at the cutting edge of Australian training philosophy and leading the Army on the path towards interactive multimedia-based training.

Located at Kokoda Barracks, Canungra, in the Gold Coast hinterland, HQ RTC is the mother of all training centres and is responsible for the command and co-ordination of the RTC formation.

Commander HQ RTC Brig John Hammond said the RTC formation included all of the regional training centres across the country – Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney.

“The RTCs conduct Subject One training – all corps promotion training from Corporal right through to RSM, elements of officer training – all corps promotion training from captain to lieutenant colonel, and selected trade courses for the ARA and Army Reserve in their regions,” he said.

“We also support regional Australian Army Cadet activities.”

HQ RTC is an element of Training Command – Army.

“HQ RTC is organised into a Head-Quarters element and a Training Wing–Command Staff and Operations Wing.

“Kokoda Barracks has four other collocated units including the Defence Intelligence Training Centre, Battle Wing Canungra of the Land Command Battle School, RTC SQ (Canungra Detachment) and Corporate Services and Infrastructure-Canungra.”

He said Technology-Based Training (TBT) was a multimedia program being phased in to all courses being run by RTCs.

“This will eventually standardise promotion training across the country. The Training Technology Centre (TTC) has been responsible for turning specific subjects into TBT, in conjunction with training advisers from the RMC and the ARTC.

“The TTC – based in Sydney – designed the products, which were different for each course, and subcontracted some packages to external companies to produce the training packages. Overall the quality of the product is world class.”

Deputy Commander HQ RTC Col Feliks Skowronski said TBT was an excellent tool because it immersed the student in the training.

“TBT offers a mature adult learning environment. Because it is self-paced, students can set their own work plan,” he said.

“It has been well received by soldiers so far.”

He said TBT was a training tool and complemented conventional instructional methods.

“There is still no substitute for hands-on team training and other practical training. TBT is simply a good way in which theoretical aspects of training can be better understood by soldiers before applying the skills in a practical situation.”

RSM HQ RTC WO1 Dave Trenberth said HQ RTC was a quality posting.

“We require qualified people with drive and determination. People do not necessarily have to have experience as an instructor – although this is obviously beneficial.

“Instructors at RTC usually get posted out of the unit on promotion to high profile positions.

“We need to emphasise that when people get posted into training establishments they do not get trapped. This is a misconception. There is a lot of opportunity for overseas deployments including East Timor and Bougainville.

“We have also had members selected for Exercise Longlook – the short term exchange program with the British Army.”

Brig Hammond said training was vital to the operational effectiveness of the Army.

“When you take into consideration the number of people we train throughout the year – about 5500 – it is paramount that we have the people and resources able to meet the Army’s requirements.

“The RTC formation has about 270 ARA positions and 858 Army Reserve positions.”

WO1 Trenberth said it was all about structured training.

“When people leave one unit and move onto another they tend to fit together cohesively because everyone in the Army has been through the same training – in general.”

Brig Hammond said training was also about bringing in line ARA and Reserve courses.

“Most ARA and Reserve courses are conducted in a manner to ensure everyone has the same competencies. This is where the ‘One Army’ concept comes in.”

He said HQ RTC was also trialling a program that may see aspects of promotion courses being conducted by distance education in the future.

“We have already trialled two of these four-month Subject One for Corporal distance education courses in north Queensland and NSW – the results, collated at the Distance Management Centre in Tasmania showed that they were much the same as the standard eight-week residential course results.

“With this method of training, soldiers will complete most of the modules at their local RTC and meet at a central location to complete a two-week residential phase.”

WO1 Trenberth said TBT and distance education would never fully take over the traditional method of instruction.

He said quality training resulted in confident and informed leaders and an operationally effective Army, which was is the ultimate aim of HQ RTC.

On a steep learning curve to become sergeant

FOR most soldiers the transition from corporal to sergeant is a major turning point in their career but in order for this promotion to occur, all soldiers, from all corps, must complete one distinct course – Subject One for Sergeant.

Capt Robert Brown, Senior Instructor at the Regional Training Centre South Queensland (RTC SQ) – Canungra Detachment, said the course was often a physical and mental challenge for soldiers.

“The promotion course runs for about six weeks and although most people complete the course at Canungra, courses are also conducted in Darwin, Townsville and Melbourne,” he said.

“With the all-corps soldier training requirement continuum, there are four generic competencies taught from recruit level right up to RSM level.

“These are training, administration, leadership and operations.

“On Subject One for Sergeant trainees complete a number of competencies including colour drill, effective public speaking, service discipline and law, operations, rapid reaction force tasks, laws of armed conflict and administration.”

He said with Technology Based Training (TBT) expected to be implemented shortly, the length of the course would be reduced.

“The longer we can keep soldiers at their units rather than on external courses, the better it will be for soldiers professionally and the Army in general.

He said the focus of the course was on assessment.

“When I say ‘assessment’ I do not only mean assessing students in relation to specific learning outcomes – one of the main jobs of a sergeant is being able to assess others. So basically, we are assessing how the students assess.”

He said the aim of the course was to prepare selected corporals in a role as a platoon sergeant.

“A lot of people experience a high learning curve when they begin the course – a number of units do not regularly practice basic soldier skills like giving formal lessons so it is really up to the soldiers themselves to re-hash those skills before the course.”

Cpl Gareth Molnar, Army Dive Wing HMAS Penguin and a student on Subject One for Sergeant, said the course was challenging.

“At the moment we are practicing colour drill and revising service discipline and law – it’s only the beginning of the course,” he said.

“Although we haven’t been using TBT on this course, I have used it on a number of other courses and I think it’s important for the Army to adapt to this technology.

“Gone are the days of physically writing reports – it’s all about computer literacy now.

“I don’t think my attitude towards the Army will change as a result of this course, I just think I’ll become smarter, wiser and more confident about my leadership abilities.”

Centre uses latest teaching methods

TECHNOLOGY Based Training (TBT) is the way of the future, according to Headquarters Regional Training Centres (HQ RTC) TBT Project Officer WO1 Stewart Purdie.

WO1 Purdie said TBT was a form of training that used computer-generated technology and multimedia to teach what used to be taught by instructors in the traditional method.

“The training management packages were originally analysed to determine what subjects would be suitable for TBT,” he said.

“Once this was established the Technology Training Centre produced, in conjunction with subject matter experts, a variety of lesson packages that are now in the form of TBT.

“After the product was produced, it went out to the RTCs to be trialled and is now a standard training package.”

The training philosophy behind TBT is self-paced learning.

WO1 Purdie said students, particularly those on Subject One for Corporal, each had a set of headphones and a computer terminal where they work through a series of lessons.

“Trainees can either browse through the lessons or actually do the lessons – it is up to them in the initial stages.”

A number of lessons are covered in the training packages.

“Service discipline and law, operations, leadership, customs and traditions are some examples of what subjects are covered in TBT. At the moment TBT is mainly used on Subject One for Corporal. We are currently trialling parts of the training package on Subject One for Sergeant – however, it has not yet been implemented fully.”

He said TBT was a beneficial training tool and was a step forward for training command.

“One of the advantages of TBT is that it standardises instruction right across the board. Soldiers across the country are now getting the same instruction under the same conditions.

“At the moment TBT is being conducted in flexible learning centres, which are basically large, open computer rooms. ”

He said adapting traditional training methods was a way in which the Army could remain a competitive training institution.

Designed for soldiers

AUSTRALIAN soldiers are among the most professional and highly trained in the world and the Regional Training Centre – South Queensland (RTC SQ) plays an important part in achieving this.

Deputy Commandant RTC SQ Lt-Col John Edwards said the primary role of RTC SQ was to deliver quality training to the Army.

“Here at Enoggera we conduct the ARA and Reserve Subject One for Corporal, Reserve Subject One for Sergeant, Reserve officer first appointment courses that we deliver on behalf of RMC and continuation training for Reserve officers.”

He said Technology Based Training (TBT) offered some fantastic interactive delivery options specifically designed for soldiers.

“Many soldiers attempting their first promotion course are usually a little apprehensive and if they are not confident with computers this can pose a problem. This is why we have produced a familiarisation package that soldiers can access before they begin promotion training.”

Sig Lachlan McMahon, 7 Sig Regt and attending Subject One for Corporal at RTC SQ, said TBT was a useful learning tool.

“Overall it’s a helpful package but there are a few things that I think would be better taught in the traditional way with an instructor out the front,” he said.

“Things like section attacks, formations and ambush are a few examples of what I think would be better taught in the field.

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