By
CPL Simone Liebelt
Volume
48, No. 4, March 23, 2006
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Temporary
CO SQNLDR Stephen Currie displays RAAFSALT’s unofficial
mascot outside the new school at RAAF Base Wagga.
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Clerk
Supply trainee AC Ryan Carr at the top of the class at
RAAFSALT.
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Photos
by CPL Simone Liebelt
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A
WELL-KNOWN training school from the past is again shaking its
stuff with a new identity and a catchy new name.
The School of Administration and Logistics Training (RAAFSALT)
was formed last December 1 after more than 10 years as part
of the School of Technical Training (RAAFSTT) at RAAF Base Wagga.
“RAAFSALT is the new kid on the block and the newest unit
in the Air Force and has put the focus back on what we do –
administration, logistics and health training,” said Temporary
Commanding Officer SQNLDR Stephen Currie.
“There’s recognition now that we are an important
part of Air Force capability. We were in the shadow of the technical
workforce, but now we can champion our own cause and can stand
on our own two feet.”
RAAFSALT is the latest chapter in a long history of training
at Wagga, which began with the formation of No. 1 Engineering
School in 1945, later to become RAAFSTT.
In 1985 the RAAF School of Clerical and Supply Training (RAAFSCST)
was formed,
running for 21 years until it was reabsorbed into RAAFSTT.
SQNLDR Currie said while RAAFSALT follows on from that tradition,
it’s now a very different and dynamic unit.
“We’ve expanded our roles from the older units; there
are far more competencies required of our graduates to meet
operational needs in the current climate, so we don’t look
anything like we used to,” he said.
“One comment we had was that we were ‘putting the
spice back into admin and logistics’.”
“I think historically, from an operational perspective,
admin and logistics has never been seen as ‘sexy’,
to use that term.
It’s the kind of support that personnel just expect and
it’s generally behind the scenes, so the only time you
know it’s not happening is when it goes wrong.”
In addition to running initial training courses for clerks,
suppliers, clerk’s supply and administration and logistics
officers, RAAFSALT runs postgraduate courses in explosives and
dangerous goods packaging, instructional technique, training
design, and has taken responsibility for Health Services Flight
(HSF), at RAAF Base Williams, Laverton.
Once part of Ground Training Wing, HSF provides courses for
medical assistants and nursing officers in perio-operative nursing,
advanced ambulance driving and life support skills.
SQNLDR Currie said HSF personnel were very pleased to become
part of the new school, along with the other 42 instructors
at Wagga.
“People were really elated when the decision was made to
stand up RAAFSALT; the mood around here was almost euphoric,”
he said.
Clerk supply instructor CPL Nikki Schmidt said it’s been
a huge morale booster.
“We have our own identity and we stand out more, and the
focus is now on the non-technical side of things, so I love
it,” she said.
“It’s also a very rewarding place to work because
we have input into the young impressionable lives of the trainees,
so we get to play a big part in their introduction into the
military, which is great.”
For more information on instructing at RAAFSALT, contact WOFF
Glen Borm on (02) 6937 5532 or email glen.borm@defence.gov.au
