E d u c a t i o n R
ecent work done within the RAF has created radical change in the delivery of education and training
programme for RAF personnel, including the Reserves forces. Flight Lieutenant John Dunn, from the project team, takes up the story.
Work carried out by the Review of Officer and Airmen Development Implementation Project Team (ROAD IPT) reflects the Air Force Board’s determination to invest in its people. Head of the ROAD IPT, Group Captain Philip Sagar says: “While personal development has always been a feature of RAF working life it has not always capitalised on the benefits it brings to our personnel and the academic recognition it could attract. Some non-specialist delivery of training has hardly evolved over the last 25-30 years”.
A number of new initiatives were introduced in the new millennium but there was little co-ordination. Accordingly, Air Member for Personnel (AMP) commissioned a Review of Officer and Airmen Development. It was recognised that, while the existing generic education and training was broadly appropriate and of high quality, the training for officers was considered to be too little, too late, issues compounded by voluntary attendance. Moreover a lack of coordination across all ranks had led to course overlap, drift, omissions and overheating.
The response has been to create a Professional Military Development (Air) (PMD(A)) programme, which for the first time will bring a coherent approach to the delivery of generic education and training across the whole of the RAF. The new programme will build progressively and weave together residential
to Success The ROAD
and face-to-face courses with distance learning and on-unit Force Development into a through- life education and training for all.
This enables the RAF to tailor learning to individual needs rather than the ‘one size fits all’ and airmen and officers alike could leave the Service with accreditation points to be put towards civilian qualifications such as leadership or management diplomas or even a Masters degree.
In the military, the RAF is at the forefront in through-life education and training. Using blended learning allows the different learning styles of all personnel to be addressed, encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and apply what they learn to their own trade/rank/situation.
At the centre of PMD(A) will be a protected, internet based, RAF learning system. This virtual learning environment with its supporting Course Management Service is based on a system used by many academic bodies and universities. It also records course and Force Development activities personnel have undertaken and helps reduce duplication of training, when moving around the RAF.
Group Captain Sagar continues: “We have done a lot of work with both vocational and educational institutions and the advice is to start small, test and adjust and that is what we are doing.
“I’d like to make it clear that this is not about working harder, it is more about working
20 Summer 2009
smarter. As a Service we face an increasingly complex operating environment which is why the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) calls for agile, adaptable and capable air power advocates at all levels. By using smarter design, smarter technology and smarter management we can design material once and use it many times, we can ensure positive reinforcement of learning rather than wasteful duplication and we can encourage active involvement through generating exciting and engaging material.
“There has already been significant progress with the introduction of PMD(A) to the RAF. One squadron leader said after his Intermediate Command and Staff course: “The new course is a significant improvement with more time to absorb topics. My understanding of Air Power and the state of the RAF have increased considerably.”
We have also had similar feedback from the Warrant Officers Study Period. “The content of the course reflected a quantifiable ‘step up’. The Senior Officer Discussion Period was fantastic and the Air Command briefing was very good indeed and very informative. More please!”
The positive feedback is encouraging and reinforces our opinion that PMD(A) will not only benefit individuals but also generate a more agile, adaptable and capable Air Force.”
For more information
visitwww.raf.mod. uk/PMDAir
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
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