In
1989 the Air Power Studies Centre (now Aerospace Centre) was established
to improve the air power knowledge of all Air Force members.
Accordingly, the two main responsibilities of the Aerospace Centre
are to produce the Air Force strategic level aerospace power doctrine
and to educate the Air Force on it. As the centre is not a training
institution, how does it meet that second responsibility? It does
it in ways that are covered in this column.
Aerospace power courses
THE Advanced Aerospace Power Course (AAPC) was introduced in 2002
and is a distance learning course of about 15 weeks that looks
at the historical underpinnings of air power employment last century.
Two courses a year are conducted via the Intranet with supervision
being provided by noted air historian Professor
John McCarthy. Nominations for the next course will be called
this month.
Other seminar series
One seminar series of a week’s duration to “train the
trainers” of RAAF College instructional staff in air power
history and theory was conducted in 2002.
This opportunity is always available and the Aerospace Centre
will respond to RAAF College needs.
Other seminar series are developed according to requests.
In 2002 two senior Royal Thai Air Force officers undertook a five-week
aerospace power seminar series at the centre.
This might become a regular feature for Visiting Fellows to the
centre.
CAF Fellowships
Each year nominations are called from Air Force members from corporal
to wing commander to undertake a year of study and research into
a subject that relates either directly or indirectly to the use
of aerospace power.
CAF Fellows spend a year at the centre studying at UNSW at ADFA
as well as researching and writing on their selected research
area.
By the end of the year, CAF Fellows have an in-depth knowledge
of aerospace power and its application, have completed a significant
research project and gained a tertiary qualification from UNSW.
The research thesis of CAF
Fellows, if deemed suitable, will be published for international
distribution.
CAF Fellowships could also be offered to members who have a deep
knowledge of aerospace power and have a suitable subject to research
and write on.
In 2003 three CAF Fellows will be at the AeC undertaking projects
on “Human Factors in Aviation”, “Culture and Aerospace
Power Doctrine” and “The Role of Intelligence in the
Sensor-to- Shooter Cockpit”. Nominations for 2004
CAF Fellows will be called in March.
Conferences
A biannual Aerospace Conference and annual History Conference
have been organised by the AeC since 1991. Papers from those conferences
have been made available to delegates and, on request, to any
Air Force member. Many copies of the conference proceedings are
still available.
From 2003 the RAAF History Conference will alternate with the
Aerospace Conference each year. In August the RAAF History Conference
will consider 100 years of air power.
Support to training institutions
Aerospace Centre staff provide presentations and/or seminars on
aerospace power doctrine, concepts and futures to all Squadron
Leader and Australian Command and Staff Courses as well as to
other training organisations when requested. The AeC will also
work with HQTC-AF and HQAC to monitor and maintain the standards
of aerospace power education in Air Force training courses.
Outreach presentations
Staff from AeC are available to present on aerospace power doctrine,
concept and future strategies to specialist courses on request.
Examples of recent presentations include Intelligence Officer
Basic Course, WOFF Conference and the Legal Officers’ Conference
this year.
Following the release of the Fundamentals of Australian Aerospace
Power book, a program of aerospace power education and dissemination
is also being planned for the first half of this year. Details
will be in future columns.
The effort of spreading the word about aerospace power in the
Air Force by the AeC is increasing but we need your help.
You can assist by providing feedback to any presentations, participating
in courses and fellowships or requesting presentations. Further
details can be obtained by contacting any of the staff at the
centre.
Our contact details are:
Tel: (02) 6287 6641
E-mail: aerospacecentre@
defence.gov.au
Web site: www.defence.gov.au/aerospacecentre.
