Royal Military College, Duntroon
Encyclopedia
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army
's officer
training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory
, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant
near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence headquarters at Russell Hill. Duntroon is adjacent to the Australian Defence Force Academy
(ADFA), which is Australian Defence Force's tri-service military academy
that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force
and the Royal Australian Navy
.
The Royal Military College, Duntroon was opened on 27 June 1911 by the Governor-General of Australia
, Lord Dudley. Situated on the Campbell family
homestead in Canberra
, which had been named "Duntroon
" (1833) after Duntrune Castle
—their ancestral home on Loch Crinan in Argyll
, Scotland
—the college was one of the first Commonwealth facilities established in the newly created capital. The Australian Government first rented the Duntroon homestead for two years (November 1910 – July 1912) and finally acquired the freehold to the estate and 370 acres (1.5 km²) of land after the creation of the federal capital.
The first Commandant
of the college was Brigadier General
William Throsby Bridges
, who later died on a hospital ship after being wounded by a sniper on the shores of Gallipoli
. Under his recommendations the college was modelled on aspects from the Royal Military College of Canada
and the military colleges of Britain
, and the United States of America
. Several British officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Charles Gwynn
as Director of Military Art, were assigned as faculty to the newly established college. During Bridges' frequent absences, Gwynn served as acting Commandant.
The First World War provided the college with its first chance to demonstrate its worth. However, when the war broke out in August 1914, there had not been enough time for the first class to complete the full Duntroon course. Nevertheless, it was decided to graduate the class early so that they could be sent over to Gallipoli, where General Sir Ian Hamilton
, commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, said that "...each Duntroon educated officer was...worth his weight in gold". During the war 158 Duntroon graduates had been sent overseas on active service, of which 42 were killed or died of wounds and another 58 were wounded.
In the beginning, the college offered a four year course, during which the first two years focused upon civil subjects and the last two years focused upon military subjects. Over the entire course, however, there was military specific training, including physical training, drill, signalling and weapon handling. Over the years, however, with the impact of the two World Wars, the duration and focus of the course changed as the requirements of the Army dictated. For a short period of time in the 1930s the college was forced to relocate to the Victoria Barracks, Sydney
, due to the economic downturn caused by the Great Depression
. During the Second World War short courses of between six months and a year were run, and ultimately 696 graduates of the College undertook active service overseas in either the Australian, British or New Zealand armed forces, while a further 122 former cadets who had not graduated served in varying capacities. Of these 122, three went on the have quite distinguished careers, with one rising to the rank of brigadier
in the Australian Army, another to brigadier in the New Zealand Army and a third, R.C. McCay, reaching the rank of lieutenant general
and serving in the British Indian Army
and then becoming chief of staff of the newly formed Pakistan Army
.
In 1967, the college affiliated with the University of New South Wales
to offer Bachelor courses in Arts
, Science
or Engineering
, commencing in the 1968 academic year. The first degrees from RMC were awarded in 1971. In order to graduate, cadets had to achieve passes in both military and academic studies and leadership
. With the establishment of the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986, however, Duntroon ceased to offer university degrees as ADFA became responsible for the academic training of Army cadets, as well as those from the Air Force and Navy.
With the closure of the Officer Cadet School, Portsea, in December 1985, and the closure of the Women's Officer Training Wing at Georges Heights, Sydney, the Royal Military College, Duntroon became the sole General Service Officer training institute in the Australian Army, as all Regular Army officers serving in combat, combat support or service support Corps must attend Duntroon in order to be commissioned. In 1995, RMC's purview was expanded as it "became responsible for the intial military training of all full-time, part-time and specialist service officers in the Australian Army".With the expansion of the Australian Army and the need for more officers, particularly of the rank of captain, in recent years the ASWOC program has been instituted whereby non-commissioned officers of the rank of sergeant and warrant officer who meet certain criteria and request a transfer are commissioned to the rank of captain based on the skills and knowledge they have gained by virtue of their service as senior NCOs. The Australian Army now also has a program known as the Specialist Service Officer program, whereby people with skills that the Army might otherwise not be able to produce, i.e. doctors, nurses, lawyers, dentists, teachers, psychologists etc. receive basic military and officer training over a short course and are commissioned into the Army to carry out their specific job (non-combat related).
Following the establishment of ADFA, the full-time General Service Officer course was reduced to 18 months, and broken up into three distinct classes—III, II and I Class. Cadets who wish to pursue a degree attend ADFA first upon appointment for three years, and then attend Duntroon for 12 months, starting the course in II Class. They then receive their commission but are liable for a longer Return of Service Obligation than those that only attend the Royal Military College.Officers attending only RMC-D have a ROSO of two and a half years, which runs concurrently to their initial minimum period of service which is six years. Officers that attend ADFA first before attending RMC-D, have a longer ROSO which essentially means that they must give the Army nine years from appointment.
In 1969, Duntroon was the centre of an inquiry after Gerry Walsh, a member of the academic staff, revealed details of hazing
told to him by a student at the college. The inquiry resulted in at least one army career ending, while other personnel were severely punished. Another bastardisation scandal was exposed in 1983. In 2011, Andrew Wilkie
admitted to be being both a victim and perpetrator of bullying while at Duntroon. Anonymous reviews of officer training in 2007 brought to light racism and harassment of female recruits.
The majority of the cadets at Duntroon are members of the Australian Army, although the college also trains some Royal Australian Air Force personnel who are training to become Ground Defence Officers
. By tradition a small number of officer cadets from New Zealand also attend the college, while since 1967 there has been a steady number of foreign cadets attending the college from nations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. While at the College, officer cadets are referred to by the honorary title of 'staff cadet', which is used as a substitute for the cadet's rank which is technically 'officer cadet
'. This title came about due to the fact that originally graduates entered the Staff Officer Corps of the Australian Army. After the late 1940s, however, graduates were assigned different corps upon graduation and were no longer posted to the Staff Corps. The title was kept on as a tradition at Duntroon, however, although officer trainees at all other Australian Army officer training establishments are referred to as 'officer cadets'.Other officer training establishments that have existed concurrently to RMC-D are the OCS Portsea, OCTU Scheyville and the Women's Officer Training Wing at George's Heights.
Administratively, the cadets are organised into a nominal infantry
battalion
structure, which is known internally as the 11th Infantry Battalion,Although this unit is not part of the official Australian Army order of battle and is distinct from the 11th Battalion, which has its own lineage. with companies
, platoons and sections
which form the Corps of Staff Cadets
. Within each of these formations there are cadets from all three classes (levels of training), who are organised into an internal hierarchy that gives the cadets themselves responsibility for looking after their own administration while the Corps is in barracks, albeit with guidance and supervision from training staff. Field training, however, is delivered by the non commissioned officers and commissioned officers of the training staff and during this phase the cadets are separated into their distinct class groups.
Since its inception, the size of the Corps of Staff Cadets has fluctuated. Initially the Corps was organised into a single company, however, in 1922 the decline in the number of cadets being admitted meant that in reality only two platoons existed. Nevertheless since then the Corps has largely increased. In 1947, when the four year course was re-established following its suspension during the Second World War, the Corps was organised into two companies that were designated alphabetically 'A' and 'B'. In 1950, however, as the size of the Corps rose to 190 cadets, a third company, designated 'C' Company was established. These companies were re-organised the following year, however, as the Corps was expanded to 210 cadets and a fourth company raised. At this time the alphabetical designations were replaced with geographical names that were chosen based upon places where Australians had fought: Gallipoli, Bardia
, Alamein
and Kokoda
.
By 1954 the number of cadets had risen further to 260, necessitating the raising of a fifth company and at this stage it was decided to name the companies after famous Australian battles, these names being: Alamein
, Gallipoli, Kokoda
, Kapyong
and Romani
. Following this expansion, however, the size of the Corps dropped and in 1958 the number of cadets had fallen to 200 and as a result Romani Company was disbanded. In 1974 a fifth company was raised—Long Tan
—while in 1976, a sixth company was raised and Romani Company was re-established. In 1986, as a result of the changing role of Duntroon, the Corps was reduced to four companies again, with Kokoda and Romani Companies being disbanded. Kokoda was reformed in 1987 as the size of the Corps reached 370 cadets, while Long Tan was disbanded in 1991 and reformed in 1995.
There are currently five full-time companies making up the Corps, these are: Long Tan, Alamein, Gallipoli, Kapyong and Kokoda. The sixth company, Romani, is used for Reserve officers who come to the College in January and July to complete the final module of their training. There is also a rehabilitation and administration company known as Bridges Company, established in October 1989. Over the course of the training semester the five full-time companies compete through sporting events and academic studies for the honour of carrying the Sovereign's Banner on parade, with the first placed company taking the title of 'Sovereign's Company' for the next semester and taking their place on the right flank when the Corps is on parade.
-sized elements in the Hardened and Networked Army concept, and to prepare specialist candidates for commissioning. The College prepares cadets and other selected candidates for careers in the Army by promoting leadership and integrity; by promoting high ideals and the pursuit of excellence, and by inculcating a sense of duty
, loyalty
and service to the nation". The current full-time program is a course of 18 months in duration, broken into three distinct classes, numbered as III, II and I Class. Each class lasts six months in duration and cadets must successfully complete each component in order to graduate and receive their commission. Throughout the course, cadets receive training in leadership, tactics, weapons systems, military law, military accounting systems, corporate governance and military history. The course is designed to test the cadets physically and mentally and graduation is by no means guaranteed. Upon graduating, cadets are promoted to the rank of lieutenant
and receive a Diploma in Military Leadership from the University of New South Wales.
Within the full-time course, there are two streams of cadets, those that enter from the Australian Defence Force Academy and those that enter through the direct entry method. Direct Entry cadets complete the eighteen month course, whilst cadets from ADFA join Duntroon in II Class, combining with the Direct Entry cadets and completing twelve months at the college. The leadership and military training provided at ADFA during the three years of training is considered the equivalent of III Class at RMC.Colloquially, direct entry cadets are known as 'bakers' particularly from the former ADFA cadets, as they are considered only half-baked, given that they spend only eighteen months in training as opposed to the four years of a university degree undertaken by an ADFA cadet. Similarly, ADFA entry cadets are known as 'FACs' (which stands for 'Former ADFA Cadets'). This terminology is always used informally and never in any written correspondence, and technically the training and syllabus for both entry types is the same.
The College also oversees the program for training officers in the Australian Army Reserve. Upon appointment to the Reserves, members join a University Regiment within their location and then undertake their training over the course of five modules run by the various University Regiments around Australia. Additionally, they are required to parade at their unit one night a week and one weekend a month. The final six and a half week module of the Reserve officer course is conducted at Duntroon. In January 2008, the Part-time Officers course was shortened to a duration of 104 days, with further employment training, specific to Corps allocation, conducted thereafter.
In 2003, the Officer Tertiary Recruitment Scheme (OTRS) was introduced, which involves the recruitment of officers enrolled in tertiary study. Essentially, this program involves undergraduate sponsorship of university students, who are appointed as Officer Cadets in the Australian Regular Army, while they study. During their tertiary study, they train with the applicable University Regiment as reservists and conduct modules of training as they are able to fit in around their studies. At the conclusion of their study (provided they have completed the necessary modules) they enroll at Duntroon in II Class.
and since then it has become a regular feature of the ceremonies and parades conducted at the College, as well as at other events around Australia and overseas. Perhaps the most notable of these performances was in 2000, when the Band accompanied a detachment of the Australian Federation Guard
to the United Kingdom
where, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of Australia's federation, the AFG mounted the Queen's Guard
at Buckingham Palace
, while the RMC Band provided the Guards Band. Recently the band has also supported Australian troops serving overseas.
In the 1980s the band began performing shows for local charities, known as the "Strike up the Band" shows and this continues today, albeit under the guise of the "Music at Midday" shows which the band performs six times a year, with proceeds going to local charities.
The College itself is situated at the foot of Mount Pleasant on the Duntroon estate. The base is one of the only military bases in Australia that is open to the general public, consisting of a large area of land incorporating a golf course, a library, a residential area for Defence members and their families, various area logistics and infrastructure units, a military hospital, a retail area, vast sporting facilities and the Australian Defence Force Academy.
The ship's bell from the troopship Duntroon
was removed when the ship was decommissioned from Australian service and presented to the College in 1978. It is now positioned at the base of the flag station near the parade ground and is used daily as part of the cadets' flag duties. Many of the original buildings from when the College was first opened in 1911 still stand and continue to be used today, having been heritage listed. An example of this is the officers' mess, known as 'Duntroon House', which is an imposing stone building, that was actually built as the Campbell family's house before the land was purchased by the Crown.
The Majura Training Area is located nearby and is currently where cadets from the College undertake the majority of their basic field training in III Class.
In July 2008, however, responsibility for Reserve officer training was taken away from Duntroon, and these units were placed under the command of the 2nd Division, with each regiment reporting directly to its parent brigade unit. Nevertheless, they continue to follow the Duntroon curriculum in modularised format, and Reserve officer cadets attend the College for their final four week training block prior to commissioning.
Other nations:
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
's officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant (Australian Capital Territory)
Mount Pleasant in Canberra overlooks the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College at Duntroon, Australia.On the top of the hill is a memorial to all ranks of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery....
near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence headquarters at Russell Hill. Duntroon is adjacent to the Australian Defence Force Academy
Australian Defence Force Academy
The Australian Defence Force Academy is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force .Tertiary education is provided by the...
(ADFA), which is Australian Defence Force's tri-service military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
and the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
.
History
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Lord Dudley. Situated on the Campbell family
Robert Campbell (1769–1846)
Robert Campbell was a pioneering and leading merchant in Sydney, a land-owner, a pastoralist, a philanthropist, and a politician being a member of the first New South Wales Legislative Council...
homestead in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, which had been named "Duntroon
Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory
Duntroon is a suburb of the city of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.-History:Robert Campbell's property Duntroon was situated on the limestone plains of New South Wales in the area that is now covered by the ACT....
" (1833) after Duntrune Castle
Duntrune Castle
Duntrune Castle is located on the north side of Loch Crinan and across from the village of Crinan in Argyll, Scotland. It is thought to be the oldest continuously occupied castle in Scotland...
—their ancestral home on Loch Crinan in Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
—the college was one of the first Commonwealth facilities established in the newly created capital. The Australian Government first rented the Duntroon homestead for two years (November 1910 – July 1912) and finally acquired the freehold to the estate and 370 acres (1.5 km²) of land after the creation of the federal capital.
The first Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the college was Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
William Throsby Bridges
William Throsby Bridges
Major General Sir William Throsby Bridges KCB, CMG served with Australian forces during World War I, and was the first Australian to reach general officer rank...
, who later died on a hospital ship after being wounded by a sniper on the shores of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
. Under his recommendations the college was modelled on aspects from the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
and the military colleges of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Several British officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Charles Gwynn
Charles Gwynn
Major-General Sir Charles William Gwynn KCB, CMG, DSO, FRGS was an Irish born British Army officer, geographer, explorer and author of works on military history and theory.-Military career:...
as Director of Military Art, were assigned as faculty to the newly established college. During Bridges' frequent absences, Gwynn served as acting Commandant.
The First World War provided the college with its first chance to demonstrate its worth. However, when the war broke out in August 1914, there had not been enough time for the first class to complete the full Duntroon course. Nevertheless, it was decided to graduate the class early so that they could be sent over to Gallipoli, where General Sir Ian Hamilton
Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton
General Sir Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton GCB GCMG DSO TD was a general in the British Army and is most notably for commanding the ill-fated Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Battle of Gallipoli....
, commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, said that "...each Duntroon educated officer was...worth his weight in gold". During the war 158 Duntroon graduates had been sent overseas on active service, of which 42 were killed or died of wounds and another 58 were wounded.
In the beginning, the college offered a four year course, during which the first two years focused upon civil subjects and the last two years focused upon military subjects. Over the entire course, however, there was military specific training, including physical training, drill, signalling and weapon handling. Over the years, however, with the impact of the two World Wars, the duration and focus of the course changed as the requirements of the Army dictated. For a short period of time in the 1930s the college was forced to relocate to the Victoria Barracks, Sydney
Victoria Barracks, Sydney
Victoria Barracks is an Australian Army base in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Victoria Barracks is located in the suburb of Paddington, between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road...
, due to the economic downturn caused by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. During the Second World War short courses of between six months and a year were run, and ultimately 696 graduates of the College undertook active service overseas in either the Australian, British or New Zealand armed forces, while a further 122 former cadets who had not graduated served in varying capacities. Of these 122, three went on the have quite distinguished careers, with one rising to the rank of brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in the Australian Army, another to brigadier in the New Zealand Army and a third, R.C. McCay, reaching the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and serving in the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
and then becoming chief of staff of the newly formed Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
.
In 1967, the college affiliated with the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
to offer Bachelor courses in Arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
, Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
or Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, commencing in the 1968 academic year. The first degrees from RMC were awarded in 1971. In order to graduate, cadets had to achieve passes in both military and academic studies and leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
. With the establishment of the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986, however, Duntroon ceased to offer university degrees as ADFA became responsible for the academic training of Army cadets, as well as those from the Air Force and Navy.
Following the establishment of ADFA, the full-time General Service Officer course was reduced to 18 months, and broken up into three distinct classes—III, II and I Class. Cadets who wish to pursue a degree attend ADFA first upon appointment for three years, and then attend Duntroon for 12 months, starting the course in II Class. They then receive their commission but are liable for a longer Return of Service Obligation than those that only attend the Royal Military College.Officers attending only RMC-D have a ROSO of two and a half years, which runs concurrently to their initial minimum period of service which is six years. Officers that attend ADFA first before attending RMC-D, have a longer ROSO which essentially means that they must give the Army nine years from appointment.
In 1969, Duntroon was the centre of an inquiry after Gerry Walsh, a member of the academic staff, revealed details of hazing
Bastardisation
Bastardisation or bastardization may refer to:* Corruption , the process of corruption of the meaning of linguistic terms*An Australian term for hazing...
told to him by a student at the college. The inquiry resulted in at least one army career ending, while other personnel were severely punished. Another bastardisation scandal was exposed in 1983. In 2011, Andrew Wilkie
Andrew Wilkie
Andrew Damien Wilkie is an Australian politician and independent federal member for Denison...
admitted to be being both a victim and perpetrator of bullying while at Duntroon. Anonymous reviews of officer training in 2007 brought to light racism and harassment of female recruits.
Organisation
Airfield Defence Guards
The Airfield Defence Guard mustering of the Royal Australian Air Force performs specialist ground defence tasks to protect air power assets from hostile ground action. The mustering is composed of non-commissioned members, commonly called 'ADGies,' most of whom are employed within an Airfield...
. By tradition a small number of officer cadets from New Zealand also attend the college, while since 1967 there has been a steady number of foreign cadets attending the college from nations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. While at the College, officer cadets are referred to by the honorary title of 'staff cadet', which is used as a substitute for the cadet's rank which is technically 'officer cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
'. This title came about due to the fact that originally graduates entered the Staff Officer Corps of the Australian Army. After the late 1940s, however, graduates were assigned different corps upon graduation and were no longer posted to the Staff Corps. The title was kept on as a tradition at Duntroon, however, although officer trainees at all other Australian Army officer training establishments are referred to as 'officer cadets'.Other officer training establishments that have existed concurrently to RMC-D are the OCS Portsea, OCTU Scheyville and the Women's Officer Training Wing at George's Heights.
Administratively, the cadets are organised into a nominal infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
structure, which is known internally as the 11th Infantry Battalion,Although this unit is not part of the official Australian Army order of battle and is distinct from the 11th Battalion, which has its own lineage. with companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, platoons and sections
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
which form the Corps of Staff Cadets
Corps of Staff Cadets
The Corps of Staff Cadets is a corps of the Australian Army. It is ranked first in the Order of Precedence ahead of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps...
. Within each of these formations there are cadets from all three classes (levels of training), who are organised into an internal hierarchy that gives the cadets themselves responsibility for looking after their own administration while the Corps is in barracks, albeit with guidance and supervision from training staff. Field training, however, is delivered by the non commissioned officers and commissioned officers of the training staff and during this phase the cadets are separated into their distinct class groups.
Since its inception, the size of the Corps of Staff Cadets has fluctuated. Initially the Corps was organised into a single company, however, in 1922 the decline in the number of cadets being admitted meant that in reality only two platoons existed. Nevertheless since then the Corps has largely increased. In 1947, when the four year course was re-established following its suspension during the Second World War, the Corps was organised into two companies that were designated alphabetically 'A' and 'B'. In 1950, however, as the size of the Corps rose to 190 cadets, a third company, designated 'C' Company was established. These companies were re-organised the following year, however, as the Corps was expanded to 210 cadets and a fourth company raised. At this time the alphabetical designations were replaced with geographical names that were chosen based upon places where Australians had fought: Gallipoli, Bardia
Bardia
Bardia is a geographic region in the Democratic Republic of Nepal.Bardia comprises a portion of the Terai, or lowland hills and valleys of southern Nepal. The Terai is over 1,000 feet in elevation, and extends all along the Indian border...
, Alamein
Alamein
Alamein can refer to:*El Alamein, a town in Egypt*First and Second Battle of El Alamein, during World War II*Alamein railway line, Melbourne, Australia**Alamein railway station on the line*HMS Alamein, a destroyer of the Royal Navy...
and Kokoda
Kokoda Track
The Kokoda Trail or Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland — in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea...
.
By 1954 the number of cadets had risen further to 260, necessitating the raising of a fifth company and at this stage it was decided to name the companies after famous Australian battles, these names being: Alamein
Battle of El Alamein
There were two battles of El Alamein in World War II, both fought in 1942. The Battles occurred in Egypt in and around an area named after a railway stop called El Alamein at .* First Battle of El Alamein – 1–27 July 1942...
, Gallipoli, Kokoda
Kokoda Track campaign
The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
, Kapyong
Battle of Kapyong
The Battle of Kapyong , also known as the Battle of Jiaping , was fought during the Korean War between United Nations forces—primarily Australian and Canadian—and the Chinese communist People's Volunteer Army...
and Romani
Battle of Romani
The Battle of Romani was fought east of the Suez Canal, near the Egyptian town of Romani and the site of ancient Pelusium on the Sinai Peninsula during the First World War...
. Following this expansion, however, the size of the Corps dropped and in 1958 the number of cadets had fallen to 200 and as a result Romani Company was disbanded. In 1974 a fifth company was raised—Long Tan
Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
—while in 1976, a sixth company was raised and Romani Company was re-established. In 1986, as a result of the changing role of Duntroon, the Corps was reduced to four companies again, with Kokoda and Romani Companies being disbanded. Kokoda was reformed in 1987 as the size of the Corps reached 370 cadets, while Long Tan was disbanded in 1991 and reformed in 1995.
There are currently five full-time companies making up the Corps, these are: Long Tan, Alamein, Gallipoli, Kapyong and Kokoda. The sixth company, Romani, is used for Reserve officers who come to the College in January and July to complete the final module of their training. There is also a rehabilitation and administration company known as Bridges Company, established in October 1989. Over the course of the training semester the five full-time companies compete through sporting events and academic studies for the honour of carrying the Sovereign's Banner on parade, with the first placed company taking the title of 'Sovereign's Company' for the next semester and taking their place on the right flank when the Corps is on parade.
Programs
The charter of the Royal Military College, Duntroon is "to produce officers capable of commanding platoonPlatoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
-sized elements in the Hardened and Networked Army concept, and to prepare specialist candidates for commissioning. The College prepares cadets and other selected candidates for careers in the Army by promoting leadership and integrity; by promoting high ideals and the pursuit of excellence, and by inculcating a sense of duty
Duty
Duty is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something. The moral commitment is the sort that results in action and it is not a matter of passive feeling or mere recognition...
, loyalty
Loyalty
Loyalty is faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause There are many aspects to...
and service to the nation". The current full-time program is a course of 18 months in duration, broken into three distinct classes, numbered as III, II and I Class. Each class lasts six months in duration and cadets must successfully complete each component in order to graduate and receive their commission. Throughout the course, cadets receive training in leadership, tactics, weapons systems, military law, military accounting systems, corporate governance and military history. The course is designed to test the cadets physically and mentally and graduation is by no means guaranteed. Upon graduating, cadets are promoted to the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and receive a Diploma in Military Leadership from the University of New South Wales.
Within the full-time course, there are two streams of cadets, those that enter from the Australian Defence Force Academy and those that enter through the direct entry method. Direct Entry cadets complete the eighteen month course, whilst cadets from ADFA join Duntroon in II Class, combining with the Direct Entry cadets and completing twelve months at the college. The leadership and military training provided at ADFA during the three years of training is considered the equivalent of III Class at RMC.Colloquially, direct entry cadets are known as 'bakers' particularly from the former ADFA cadets, as they are considered only half-baked, given that they spend only eighteen months in training as opposed to the four years of a university degree undertaken by an ADFA cadet. Similarly, ADFA entry cadets are known as 'FACs' (which stands for 'Former ADFA Cadets'). This terminology is always used informally and never in any written correspondence, and technically the training and syllabus for both entry types is the same.
The College also oversees the program for training officers in the Australian Army Reserve. Upon appointment to the Reserves, members join a University Regiment within their location and then undertake their training over the course of five modules run by the various University Regiments around Australia. Additionally, they are required to parade at their unit one night a week and one weekend a month. The final six and a half week module of the Reserve officer course is conducted at Duntroon. In January 2008, the Part-time Officers course was shortened to a duration of 104 days, with further employment training, specific to Corps allocation, conducted thereafter.
In 2003, the Officer Tertiary Recruitment Scheme (OTRS) was introduced, which involves the recruitment of officers enrolled in tertiary study. Essentially, this program involves undergraduate sponsorship of university students, who are appointed as Officer Cadets in the Australian Regular Army, while they study. During their tertiary study, they train with the applicable University Regiment as reservists and conduct modules of training as they are able to fit in around their studies. At the conclusion of their study (provided they have completed the necessary modules) they enroll at Duntroon in II Class.
The Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon has been in existence in some shape or form since 1916 when a part-time band was established from volunteers drawn from the riding staff. Nevertheless, it was not until 1954 that they were officially established, when a band formed from members of the Regular Army was established at the College. In 1968 it became part of the Australian Army Band CorpsAustralian Army Band Corps
The Australian Army Band Corps is the Australian Army's musical branch. The Corps was formed on 2 August 1968 and provides the Army with musical support and seeks to improve the Army's public image.-See also:* Army Recruit Training Centre...
and since then it has become a regular feature of the ceremonies and parades conducted at the College, as well as at other events around Australia and overseas. Perhaps the most notable of these performances was in 2000, when the Band accompanied a detachment of the Australian Federation Guard
Australia's Federation Guard
The Federation Guard is a tri-service ceremonial unit made up of members from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where, as part of the celebrations of the centenary of Australia's federation, the AFG mounted the Queen's Guard
Queen's Guard
The Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, while the RMC Band provided the Guards Band. Recently the band has also supported Australian troops serving overseas.
In the 1980s the band began performing shows for local charities, known as the "Strike up the Band" shows and this continues today, albeit under the guise of the "Music at Midday" shows which the band performs six times a year, with proceeds going to local charities.
Buildings and features
The ship's bell from the troopship Duntroon
HMAS Duntroon
HMAS Duntroon was a troopship operated by the Royal Australian Navy from 1946 to 1949.Built in 1935 as MV Duntroon for the Melbourne Steamship Company, the ship was offered for conversion into an armed merchant cruiser at the start of World War II, but was not accepted...
was removed when the ship was decommissioned from Australian service and presented to the College in 1978. It is now positioned at the base of the flag station near the parade ground and is used daily as part of the cadets' flag duties. Many of the original buildings from when the College was first opened in 1911 still stand and continue to be used today, having been heritage listed. An example of this is the officers' mess, known as 'Duntroon House', which is an imposing stone building, that was actually built as the Campbell family's house before the land was purchased by the Crown.
The Majura Training Area is located nearby and is currently where cadets from the College undertake the majority of their basic field training in III Class.
Queen's Medal
The Queen's Medal is awarded to the cadet graduating top of their class academically. It was originally instituted in 1919, when it was called the King's Medal, and all cadets, including foreign cadets attending the College, are eligible. Indeed, Singaporean cadets established a long tradition of receiving this honour, doing so in 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1982 according to a 1986 source.Reserve Units of the Royal Military College – Australia
In 1997 the Royal Military College took responsibility for overseeing the training provided to Reserve officer cadets and as a result in 1998 the Royal Military College of Australia was established as a formation. As a part of this formation, the following University Regiments were placed under the College's command:- Melbourne University RegimentMelbourne University RegimentThe Melbourne University Regiment is an officer training unit in the Australian Army Reserve. It has a depot at Grattan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia....
(MUR) - Monash University RegimentMonash University RegimentThe Monash University Regiment is a reserve officer training regiment of the Australian Army, based in Victoria near Monash University. It is a part of the 2nd Division's 4th Brigade. The Regiment is associated with the university, but this proved to be a difficult relationship during the Vietnam...
(MonUR) - Queensland University RegimentQueensland University RegimentQueensland University Regiment is an officer training unit of the Australian Army Reserve, based on the campus of the University of Queensland at St Lucia, Brisbane...
(QUR) (Including North Queensland Company) - University of New South Wales RegimentUniversity of New South Wales RegimentThe University of New South Wales Regiment is an officer training regiment of the Australian Army Reserve.-Unit history:The University of New South Wales Regiment was originally founded as the New South Wales University of Technology Regiment in 1952. Army Headquarters approval to form the unit...
(UNSWR) - Sydney University RegimentSydney University RegimentSydney University Regiment is an officer training regiment of the Australian Army Reserve. It can trace its lineage back to 1900 when the University Volunteer Rifle Corps was raised as a unit of the colonial New South Wales Defence Force. Over time this unit has undergone a number of name and role...
(SUR) (Including Australian National University (ANU) Company) - Adelaide Universities RegimentAdelaide Universities RegimentAdelaide Universities Regiment is an officer training unit of the Australian Army headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia. Currently AUR maintains a cadre staff of trained Regular and Reserve personnel who oversee and administer the training of Reserve officer cadets...
(AUR) (Including North Australia Company) - Western Australia University Regiment (WAUR)
- University of TasmaniaUniversity of TasmaniaThe University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
Company (UTC).
In July 2008, however, responsibility for Reserve officer training was taken away from Duntroon, and these units were placed under the command of the 2nd Division, with each regiment reporting directly to its parent brigade unit. Nevertheless, they continue to follow the Duntroon curriculum in modularised format, and Reserve officer cadets attend the College for their final four week training block prior to commissioning.
Commandants
The following officers served as commandants of the college:- Brigadier General W.T BridgesWilliam Throsby BridgesMajor General Sir William Throsby Bridges KCB, CMG served with Australian forces during World War I, and was the first Australian to reach general officer rank...
CMG (1910–14) - Major General J.W Parnell CMG (1914–20)
- Major General J. G LeggeJames Gordon LeggeLieutenant General James Gordon Legge CB, CMG was an Australian Army Lieutenant General who served in World War I. His son Stanley Ferguson Legge reached the rank of Major General.-Early life and career:...
CB, CMG (1920–22) - Colonel Commandant F. B. Heritage CBE, MVO (1922–29)
- Brigadier E.F HarrisonEric Harrison (Australian soldier)Eric Fairweather Harrison was an Australian soldier and politician.Harrison was born in the Sydney suburb of Stanmore, New South Wales and educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School and Bedford Grammar School in England. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge with a B.A. in 1901...
(1929–31) - Brigadier F.B Heritage CBE, MVO (1931)
- Major General J.H BrucheJulius Henry BrucheMajor General Sir Julius Henry Bruche KCB, CMG was an Australian Army officer who undertook active service during the Second Boer War and First World War and eventually rose to the position of Chief of the General Staff in 1931...
CB, CMG (1931) - Lieutenant Colonel D.H Pratt DSO, MC (1931)Pratt was a British officer serving on exchange with the Australian Army. He is the only non-Australian officer to serve in the role as commandant of Duntroon. Moore 2001, p. 428.
- Brigadier F.B Heritage, CBE, MVO (1931–32)
- Colonel J.D LavarackJohn LavarackLieutenant General Sir John Dudley Lavarack KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO was an Australian soldier who was Governor of Queensland from 1 October 1946 to 4 December 1957, the first Australian-born governor of that state....
CMG, DSO (1933–35) - Brigadier C.G.N Miles CMG, DSO (1935–39)
- Brigadier E.C.P Plant DSO, OBE (1939–40)
- Brigadier E.F Harrison (1940–42)
- Brigadier B.Combes CBE (1942–45)
- Brigadier E.L Vowles MC (1945–48)
- Major General H. WellsHenry Wells (general)Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO was a senior officer in the Australian Army. Serving as Chief of the General Staff from 1954 to 1958, Wells' career culminated with his appointment as the first Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, a position marking him as the professional head of...
CBE, DSO (1949–51) - Major General R.N.L HopkinsRonald HopkinsMajor General Ronald Nicholas Lamond Hopkins CBE , was a senior officer in the Australian Army. He began his military career in 1915 when he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon as a staff cadet and graduated as a lieutenant in the Permanent Forces in late 1917...
CBE (1951–54) - Major General I.R Campbell CBE, DSO (1954–57)
- Major General J.G.N Wilton CBE, DSO (1957–60)
- Major General R.W Knights CB, CBE (1960–62)
- Major General C.H Finlay CB, CBE 1962–68)
- Major General C.A.E Fraser CBE (1968–70)
- Major General C.M.I PearsonSandy PearsonMajor General Cedric Mandsley Ingram "Sandy" Pearson AO, DSO, OBE, MC is a retired Australian Army officer. He is a former Commander of Australian Forces during the Vietnam War, Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon and Director of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South...
DSO, OBE, MC (1970–73) - Major General R.A Hay CB, MBE (1973–77)
- Major General A.L Morrison AO, DSO, MBE (1977–81)
- Major General J.D Kelly DSO (1981–83)
- Major General H.J CoatesJohn Coates (general)Lieutenant General Henry John Coates AC, MBE is a former senior officer in the Australian Army who served as Chief of the General Staff...
MBE (1983–84) - Major General B.H Hockney AO (1984–87)
- Major General M.P Blake AM, MC (1987–90)
- Brigadier R.G Curtis AM, MC (1990–93)
- Brigadier S.V.L Willis 1993–95)
- Brigadier B.G Stevens (1995–96)
- Brigadier P.J CosgrovePeter CosgroveGeneral Peter John Cosgrove AC, MC is a retired Australian Army officer. He was the Chief of the Defence Force from 3 July 2002 to 3 July 2005, when he retired from active service...
AM, MC (1997–98) - Brigadier P.L.G Pursey (1999)Pursey was the first graduate of OTU Scheyville to serve as commandant of Duntroon.
- Brigadier M.R McNarn AM (2000–01)
- Brigadier M.F Paramor (2001–03)
- Brigadier C.G Appleton (2003–06)
- Brigadier M.D Bornholt AM (2006–08)
- Brigadier M. Moon DSC, AM (2009–2011)
- Brigadier D. M. Luhrs CSC (2011–present).
See also
- Australian Defence CollegeAustralian Defence CollegeThe Australian Defence College comprises three tri-service educational organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory:* the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies ,...
- Australian Defence Force AcademyAustralian Defence Force AcademyThe Australian Defence Force Academy is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force .Tertiary education is provided by the...
- Officer Cadet School, PortseaOCS PortseaThe Officer Cadet School, Portsea was an officer training establishment of the Australian Army. Established at Portsea in Victoria, Australia, in 1951 to provide training to officer cadets prior to commissioning, for many years OCS provided the Australian Regular Army with the bulk of its junior...
- Officer Training Unit, Scheyville
Other nations:
- Royal Military Academy SandhurstRoyal Military Academy SandhurstThe Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
- United States Military AcademyUnited States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point - Royal Military College of CanadaRoyal Military College of CanadaThe Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...