Page 11 - The Cormorant 2018

The Directing Staff Perspective Wing Commander Leonie Boyd
TOWARDS THE END OF my time as a student on ACSC 20, I was simply relieved to have completed all of my submissions and looking
forward to a well-earned rest at the end of the Course. Having requested to remain at Shrivenham to give my family stability, I
had given little real thought to my next assignment as Directing Staff (DS) on ACSC, apart from batting off the expected banter from my fellow students.....
Fast forward towards the end of August, and I found myself back in the College on the Defence Higher Education Trainer course, a pre-requisite for all new DS. Not only did the College feel strangely quiet without any students, but I also felt slightly uneasy amongst the DS, some of whom only weeks before had been appraising me. Now, how things have changed – I am a seasoned DS, having almost
seen as entire Course through (although other views are available!) Contrary to what I expected, ‘DS’ing’ is great fun, most, if not all, of the time. The best bit is undoubtedly getting to know some amazing students, whose intellect, agility and
enthusiasm, continue to surprise and challenge. Mentoring, guiding and facilitating such capable and conscientious fellow officers is genuinely rewarding. Syndicate room discussions are highly enjoyable, requiring only a light ‘steer’ every once-in-a-while to keep the discussion on track to achieve the learning outcomes.
There are also great opportunities to continue your own development, not least learning from your students, many of whom have incredibly broad Service and life experiences and impressively wide-ranging knowledge. Preparing for Stages
and Modules takes a significant amount of time, particularly in areas in which you have very little experience or knowledge (Ways Core for me!).
Even more challenging can be the marking: twenty Ways Core papers, then the same number of
Loose Minutes required some late nights and self-motivation, inevitably taking me longer than I expected, in many ways similar to the DRP! Marking and moderation are taken exceptionally seriously by all the DS, consuming hours and energy to ensure that all marking is fair and constructive feedback
is provided. I genuinely could not have survived some of these pinch points without the humour, support and friendship of my fellow DS, who instantly accepted me as one of their own. I hope that my
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recent experiences on ACSC have made me a better DS than I might otherwise have been, if nothing else able to empathise with the workload!
As with any other role, there are many associated and secondary duties available (with which to be pinged!). It has been a particular privilege for me
to be the Lead DS for the RAF Dinner; this year celebrating the RAF’s 100th Anniversary. With an excellent organising Committee and many fantastic ideas of how best to commemorate, celebrate and inspire, I cannot take any of the credit for what was a superb Dinner, but I certainly thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of my RAF colleagues better.
Sitting in the back of the Cormorant Hall Lecture Theatre, I find it inspiring to think that I am looking out at many of our nations’ (UK and international) military and civil servant leaders of the future. I hope that some might think of returning to JSCSC at some point in the future as DS or a DD.
In the meantime though, I have thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of meeting and working with the students of ACSC, and I wish them all the very best in their future careers. Now bring on ACSC 22...
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Contrary
to what I expected, ‘DS’ing’
is great fun ◆◆◆