Potential Regiment Officers course
Encyclopedia
The Potential Regiment Officers Course (PROAC) is an assessment and training tool of the Royal Air Force
(RAF)in Britain. It has been in existence since April 2008.
, will have a minimum of 5 GSCE
s graded A-C and 2 A-levels
, or will have achieved a certified comparable education.
, for men wishing to become an RAF Regiment
Officer.
The course is held at RAF Honington
, near Suffolk
on the eastern shore of England. Some training may also be given at other airbases or facilities.
The course is designed to discover a candidate's leadership qualities and ability to provide continued command in stressful situations. One's ability to communicate effectively, and one's physical condition, are also assessed.
assault course
as an initial introduction, and are invited to try the obstacles individually. After the candidates are familiar with the course, they are ordered the run the course, which begins and ends with a 100-metre sprint around evenly spaced barrels. The course is timed and every obstacle must be completed to pass. Some candidates have difficulty getting over the nine-foot wall; to avoid this problem it is important that candidates practice over-grip pull ups.
, given current affairs topics and are invited to discuss their views on the subject. The Assessment Officers will occasionally prompt the candidates to steer the conversations in their desired directions.
museum, they are expected to present a brief history of the RAF Regiment. This is designed to test communications skills, as well as physical presentation, delivery and control over a large group of people when delivering vital information. Along with the course contents detailed above, a potential officer is also assessed by less traditional means. For example, during time at the Officers Mess
, for meals and drinks, candidates are evaluated on their social interactions in non-structured settings.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF)in Britain. It has been in existence since April 2008.
Requirements
Successful attendance at the course is required of any person who plans to train as an officer in the RAF. A candidate will be at least 17 years and 6 months of age at entrance, will hold a British passportPassport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
, will have a minimum of 5 GSCE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
s graded A-C and 2 A-levels
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
, or will have achieved a certified comparable education.
Content and location
The PROAC is a four-day assessment course, designed to complement the military's Officer and Aircrew Selection CentreOfficer and Aircrew Selection Centre
The Royal Air Force Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre, located at Adastral Hall, RAF Cranwell, is the centre through which every potential RAF officer must go to be selected for Initial Officer Training . The Selection Centre is attached to 2 large hangars, plus the Candidates Mess. The centre...
, for men wishing to become an RAF Regiment
RAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
Officer.
The course is held at RAF Honington
RAF Honington
RAF Honington is a Royal Air Force station located south of Thetford near Ixworth in Suffolk, England. Although used as a bomber station during the Second World War, RAF Honington is now the RAF Regiment depot and home to the Joint CBRN Regiment.-RAF use:...
, near Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
on the eastern shore of England. Some training may also be given at other airbases or facilities.
The course is designed to discover a candidate's leadership qualities and ability to provide continued command in stressful situations. One's ability to communicate effectively, and one's physical condition, are also assessed.
Gym session
Consisting of:- Multi-stage fitness testMulti-stage fitness testThe multi-stage fitness test, also known as the bleep test, beep test, pacer test, Leger-test or 20-m shuttle run test, is used by sports coaches and trainers to estimate an athlete's VO2 max...
- Push-ups
- Sit-upsSit-up (exercise)The sit-up is a strength training exercise commonly performed with the aim of strengthening the hip flexors and abdominal muscles. It begins with lying with the back on the floor, typically with the arms across the chest or hands behind the head and the knees bent in an attempt to reduce stress on...
- Swimming: 4 lengths of a 25-metre pool, followed by treading waterTreading waterWater treading is an aspect of swimming that involves a swimmer staying in a vertical position in the water while keeping his or her head above the surface of the water...
for 2 minutes (performed in succession, without touching the sides or bottom of the pool)
Assault Course
The candidates traverse the RAF RegimentRAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
assault course
Assault course
An assault course is a special sort of trail that combines running and exercising. It was more popular in the 1970s than it is now. It is heavily used in military training...
as an initial introduction, and are invited to try the obstacles individually. After the candidates are familiar with the course, they are ordered the run the course, which begins and ends with a 100-metre sprint around evenly spaced barrels. The course is timed and every obstacle must be completed to pass. Some candidates have difficulty getting over the nine-foot wall; to avoid this problem it is important that candidates practice over-grip pull ups.
Group Discussion
The candidates are taken to the Officers MessMess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
, given current affairs topics and are invited to discuss their views on the subject. The Assessment Officers will occasionally prompt the candidates to steer the conversations in their desired directions.
Low Ropes
The "Low Ropes" are designed to test leadership skills. The course is split into two and each group is given mission requirements without the knowledge of the opposing team. Candidates are assessed on the extent that they assume control of situations, and how they communicate their ideas to team members.Presentation
The course is split into groups no larger than three and together, after a visit to the RAF RegimentRAF Regiment
The Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
museum, they are expected to present a brief history of the RAF Regiment. This is designed to test communications skills, as well as physical presentation, delivery and control over a large group of people when delivering vital information. Along with the course contents detailed above, a potential officer is also assessed by less traditional means. For example, during time at the Officers Mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
, for meals and drinks, candidates are evaluated on their social interactions in non-structured settings.
Day 2
- Opening Address
- Fitness assessments & Swim Test
- Assault courseAssault courseAn assault course is a special sort of trail that combines running and exercising. It was more popular in the 1970s than it is now. It is heavily used in military training...
- Weapons Demonstration
- RAF RegimentRAF RegimentThe Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
Museum visit
Day3
- Unsuccessful candidates are returned to Bury St Edmunds
- Successful candidates commence boot run to low ropes
- "Low Ropes" Leadership Exercises
- Group discussion - Current events
- Careers Brief
- PROC Hosted Dinner
Day 4
- Three-mile run
- Candidate presentations (RAF Regiment history)
- Interviews
- Course Dispersal