Description
Description: Squadron Patch – RAAF Officers’ Training School.
Condition: Very Good
Comments: Squadron Patch – RAAF Officers’ Training School.
Officers’ Training School (OTS) is charged with the responsibility of creating the leaders of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Approximately 200-300 students graduate from OTS each year. The course is very demanding, requiring physical and mental toughness. These demands provide the means to measure the students’ suitability for becoming officers in the RAAF.
The school works to transform officer trainees into leaders with values of respect, excellence, agility, dedication, integrity and teamwork vital to be effective officers in the Air Force. The training aims to prepare the students for their careers as officers and leaders by providing them with skills in decision-making, communication, management and leadership.
The unit conducts the majority of initial officer training for Air Force via the Initial Officer Course. Officers Training School caters not only for Permanent Air Force students, but RAAF Active Reserve (RAAFAR) officer trainees and RAAF specific training for RAAF officer cadets of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). In this way, OTS graduates around 200 students from the full Initial Officer Course, and trains roughly an additional 300 RAAFAR and ADFA students at various times in any one year. In addition, OTS conducts the Reserve Specialist Officer Familiarisation course bi-annually.
The Initial Officer Course places an emphasis on leadership training, adventurous and experiential learning, the development of high levels of individual commitment, responsibility and team orientation. The practical aspects of the course includes several field deployments which develop leadership, management, ground defence and teamwork skills. Coupled with a broad academic program, the course develops the knowledge, attitudes and skills for a professional officer corps that can meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
OTS directing staff has the responsibility of being role-models and mentors; emphasis is placed on encouragement and support. Directing staff are assigned to each course of students and participate in all aspects of the course including adventurous and physical training and the full range of classroom and field activities.
OTS is also responsible for overseeing Single Service Training for RAAF officer cadets of the Defence Force Academy. This training, together with the Academy Military Education and Training, give the Academy students the equivalent of the IOC.
