Page 37 - Australian Defence Mag Jul-Aug 2020

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
SIMULATION TRAINING 37
Sale, it becomes a select-in process. From here on in, can- didates get invited to progress as opposed to automatically progressing. So just because they meet the minimum stan- dard at ASP, doesn’t mean that they’ll progress to an Of- ficer Selection Board (OSB).”
The ADF transfers candidates to RAAF Base East Sale, bringing the cohort of around 10 together the night before starting ASP. Their program starts with an introduction to military culture: they’re given flight suits to wear, special ASP caps, stay on the base, eat in the mess and, yes, get up at 0630 in the morning ... just as they would once if they are successful.
Their baptism is a briefing, usually conducted by an advo- cate from one of the three services vying for the best can- didates: army, navy or air force. It is the start of a barrage of information that is set to come their way over the next two days, and the most reinforced theme is that OA is more than just flying planes.
“Maybe a candidate has come to East Sale hell-bent on being a pilot,” WGCDR Broadbridge said. “Maybe that’s all they even know. They may test as being unsuitable, or they’re suitable, but just not competitive as a pilot. How- ever, they might be highly competitive for Mission or as an AvWO [Aviation Warfare Officer – RAN only], so we can give them those options.”
Laying out the options was not so easy when Flight Screen- ing was conducted in Tamworth. Candidates who weren’t of- fered progression would likely return home believing there was no place for them in OA framework. At ACMC, the team makes it clear to each candidate that they may have poten- tial for a number of operational streams. Yes, the ADF wants people to apply for pilot, but they are also on the lookout for Weapons Systems Operators (WSO), Maritime Patrol and Response Officers (MPRO), Air Mobility Officers, Air Battle Managers, Air Traffic Controllers and AvWOs.
The briefing officer will also step them through each stage of their assessment from the MACTS, OSB and the letter of offer; why they are there and the path ahead is clearly spelt out for them. At the end of the brief, candidates are fully-versed on the meaning of Of- ficer Aviation.
Typically the next step is out to the flight line for a very close-up look at the PC-21 aircraft used as a flying trainer by all three services. The most recent addition to the RAAF inventory, the PC-21 is a step up from the PC-9 that served well for many years. A good inspection not only gives them an idea of where they may be going, but further fires their desire for getting there. Active pilots based at RAAF Base East Sale are on hand to field the inevitable questions com- ing from the candidates.
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