Army Reserve - First Appointment Course
Course Information
The Army Reserve General Service Officer First Appointment Course is designed to train Army Reserve officers to command platoon size groups on peace and security operations.
It consists of an initial training block at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, then residential and non-residential training at local University Regiments, followed by the final training block at Duntroon in Canberra.
The Army Reserve General Service Officer First Appointment Course (ARes GSO FAC) is made up of five residential training blocks which are conducted at different locations around the country, consolidated by training in your home unit and a self-paced learning package. This gives you the flexibility to complete the training around your civilian employment commitments, leave allowances, common university breaks or personal commitments.
It will take from one to three years to complete the ARes GSO FAC and at the end of the course you will graduate as an Army Reserve officer capable of commanding a platoon of 30 soldiers on peace and security operations. The training will build upon the Army's ethos, values and rules for a fair go; all of which you will be expected to display throughout all aspects of this course.
Residential Training Blocks
Training Block 1 (Course Code 204543)- Military Foundation Skills is actually the Reserve Recruit Training Course and will be conducted at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, near Wagga Wagga in NSW. Qualified soldiers who are selected to be officers may be granted recognition for this training and would normally commence the ARes GSO FAC at Training Block 2. RCC for subsequent training blocks is to made on an individual basis, directly to the ARes Training Cell RMC-A, Duntroon, ACT 2600, or sent electronically via: rmcaresfac@drn.mil.au. Likewise any officer candidate who does not wish to continue officer training is able to become a soldier on completion of this training block. This training block is 28 days long and is usually undertaken in January or July. It is also available at other times of the year, if required. For more information:
ARTC Website
Training Block 2 (Course Code 206324)- Small Military Team Leader Theory is 16 days long and is conducted in April and October by Adelaide Universities Regiment in South Australia. This training block builds on the skills introduced in Training Block 1 and introduces new operational, weapons and navigation skills. For more information:
AUR Website
Training Block 3 (Course Code 206325)- Small Military Team Leader is 16 days long and is conducted in January and June by University of New South Wales Regiment at Singleton in New South Wales. This training block introduces command, leadership and management skills in addition to military administration. This training block is also your first step to learning the leadership and management skills that you will need to successfully command soldiers in the Australian Army. For more information:
UNSWR Website
Training Block 4 (Course Code 206326)- Team Command, Leadership and Management is 16 days long and is conducted in April and October by Melbourne University Regiment at Puckapunyal, Victoria. This training block revises and tests what you have already learnt about small team level operations as well as building further on your administrative capabilities as a small team leader. This training block also gives you qualifications in the conduct of military live fire range practices. For more information:
Training Block 5 (Course Code 206327)- All Corps Army Reserve Platoon Commander is 28 days long and is conducted in January/February and June/July by Romani Coy, RMC Duntroon. This training block confirms you have all the attributes, skills and values to become an officer in the Army Reserve. It also confirms that you 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 you will be commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Australian Army. See the joining instruction below for more information.
Refer to 2 DIV website and the Schedule of Training for upcoming course dates.
Training in Your Unit
In between the residential training blocks you will be expected to attend parade nights and weekends organised by your parent University Regiment. Your unit will look after all your administration for attending the ARes GSO FAC training blocks.
The training staff will revise the skills you have acquired on previous residential training blocks in preparation for your next training block.
A Training Assessment Record (TAR) will be issued to you and allow you to record your progress on these skills. There are also some additional requirements for training which are obtained through external organisations. These requirements will be explained to you by unit staff.
2 DIV Schedule of Training
Training Support Package (TSP)
During Training Block 3 you will be given a CD containing a series of exercises to be completed at home and handed in progressively before the next two training blocks. The CD will contain the references to assist you to complete this work.
Benefits of ARES GSO FAC
Civilian Accreditation - The Army is a Registered Training Organisation. The ARes GSO FAC is delivered using the Australian Quality Training Framework and therefore is eligible to receive civilian accreditation. This accreditation will be reviewed in the second half of 2008. When this review is complete a determination will be made on the qualifications that SCDTs may be awarded on successful completion of the course.
Training Value to Employers - Most employers are happy to have their staff join the Army Reserve. The ARes GSO FAC focuses on instilling Army's values of Courage, Initiative and Teamwork and is designed to develop a person's leadership potential. These are vital qualities in any workforce and the ARes GSO FAC training emphasises the development of these skills.
Employer Support Payment - Employers may be eligible to receive a subsidy from Defence while their employees are away doing the residential training blocks of the course. For more information: Employer Support Payment
Physical Training Guide
The physical training guides below are designed to assist you in preparing to meet the physical demands of the ARes GSO FAC Training Blocks:
LWP-G 7-7-4 Combat Fitness Handbook 
RMC Conditioning Guide (ARes GSO FAC) - DRAFT RMC Functional Conditioning book Dec 09 ARes GSO FAC - Program Cycle 1 - Weeks 1-4 (DRAFT CONCEPT) Course Map
Below are the upto date course maps to be used for planning training from Mar 11 onwards.
docs/ARes_FAC_TMP_Map_Mar_11.pdf docs/ARes_FAC_TB2_TMP_Map_Mar_11.pdf docs/ARes_FAC_TB3_TMP_Map_Mar_11.pdf ARes GSO FAC - TB4 in detail at 11 Nov 10 ARes GSO FAC - TB5 in detail at 11 Nov 10 ARes GSO FAC - TSP in detail at 11 Nov 10 ARes GSO FAC - MHC in detail at 11 Nov 10 ARes GSO FAC - Pre-Course Study in detail at 11 Nov 10 UoC Diagram (PDT) for ARes GSO FAC at Oct 09 Recognition of Prior Learning
The forms below are to be used when applying for recognition of prior learning.
ARes GSO FAC Recognitin Application form 
ARes GSO FAC TB2 - Recognition Matrix Ver 6.0 17 Nov 11 ARes GSO FAC TB3 - Reconition Matrix Ver 6 17 Nov 11 ARes GSO FAC TB4 - Recognition Matrix Ver 6.0 17 Nov 11 As of 17 Nov 11 only applications utilising version 6.0 forms will be accepted and all others will be returned to the applicant.
Military History Component
Due to the evolution of officer training, the Military History Component has been produced to provide essential reading material required to complete this course
This material is designed to enable ARes trainees to effectively analyse military history and prepare them for further syndicate discussion within the training blocks.
This training is designed for self paced study on parade nights within the University Regiment or in the trainee's own time at home.
Any questions in relation to the completion of the Military History Component should be addressed through the trainees chain-of-command or email the ARes Trg Cell, HQ RMC-A:
WORKBOOKS
The following Workbooks are to be completed and taken to the respective TB:
TB3_Military_History_Kokoda_Campaign - (Workbook 1) TB4_Military_History_Kokoda_Campaign - (Workbook 2) TB5_Military_History_Kokoda_Campaign - (Workbook 3)
READING RESOURCES
See below reading resources for the ARes GSO FAC:
39_Infantry_Battalion_war_diary LWD_Extract-Principles_of_Leadership Official_hist_Ch4_Kokoda Official_hist_Ch5_Milne_Bay Official_Hist_Ch6_Isurava Official_Hist_Ch14_Gona Pre_TB5_Readings