Unit Brief

ARes FAC - Course Overview.

AUR supports and takes part in the Royal Military College - Australia (RMC-A) Army Reserve officer training course. This course is made up of five residential training blocks (TB) TB1 for 4 Weeks (TB2,3 & 4 lasting around two weeks)with TB5 lasting for 4 weeks which are conducted at different locations around the country, plus training at the OCDT's home unit. This lets OCDTs have the flexibility to complete the training around their civilian employment commitments and leave allowances or around common university breaks.

It takes from one to three years to complete the Army Reserve General Service Officer First Appointment Course and at the end of the course OCDTs will be capable of commanding a platoon of 30 soldiers on peace and security operations in the Australian Army.

The training will build upon the Army's ethos, values and rules for a fair go. All of which the trainees will be expected to display throughout all aspects of this course.

On the successful completion of the course, the graduates will be commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Australian Army Reserve.

Residential Modules

Training Block 1 – Military Foundation Skills is the Reserve Recruit Training Course conducted at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, near Wagga in NSW. Qualified soldiers who are selected to be officers may be granted recognition of this training and commence the ARes GSO FAC at Module 2. Likewise any officer candidate who does not wish to continue officer training is able to become a soldier on completion of this module. This Training Block is 28 days duration and is usually undertaken in blocks during January or July. However, it is also available for individuals at other times of the year to meet civilian work commitments, if required.

Training Block 2 - Small Military Team Leader Theory is 16 days duration and is conducted in April and October by Adelaide Universities Regiment in South Australia. This Training Block builds on the skills introduced at Recruit Training and introduces new operational, weapons and navigation skills.

Training Block 3 - Small Military Team Leader is 16 days duration and is conducted in January and June by University of New South Wales Regiment at RMC Duntroon in Canberra. This Training Block introduces command, leadership and management skills in addition to military administration. This module is also the first step to learning the leadership and management skills needed to successfully command soldiers in the Australian Army.

Training Block 4 - Team Command, Leadership and Management is 16 days duration and is conducted in April and October by Melbourne University Regiment and Monash University Regiment at Puckapunyal, Victoria. This module revises and tests what has already been taught about small team level operations as well as building further on administrative capabilities as a small team leader. This Training Block also qualifies OCDTs in the conduct of military live fire range practices.

Training Block 5 - All Corps Army Reserve Platoon Commander is 28 days duration and is conducted in February and July by External Training Wing RMC Duntroon and Sydney University Regiment in Canberra. This module confirms that the OCDTs have all the attributes, skills and values to become an officer in the Australian Army. It also confirms that the OCDTs have the leadership, management, operational skills and knowledge required of a junior officer to command a platoon on likely Army Reserve operations. On the successful completion of Training Block 5, the OCDTs will be commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Australian Army Reserve.

Non-Residential Training.

In between the residential training blocks, OCDTs are required to attend parade nights and weekends organised by their parent Army Reserve University Regiment.

The Unit's training staff will assist OCDTs to prepare for the residential modules by consolidating learning and revising skills, such as weapon handling, navigation, fieldcraft, drill, Defence writing and oral communication.

OCDTs are required to complete the Senior First Aid certificate with a registered training provider, prior to commencing TB2.