Page 34 - RADC Bulletin 2021

RMAS SNCO Instructor Selection Cadre
Sgt G Phillips
If you are a JNCO or SNCO with a passion for teaching or think an instructor role
is something you are keen to explore, then this may well be an option for you to consider along your career path. I always strive to challenge myself and be open to both team and personal development, not only in my line of work but also outside of it, therefore this role certainly piqued my interest.
What is it?
In March of this year, I attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) SNCO Instructor Selection Cadre. It is an arduous 4 week course where you put yourself forward to be assessed by RMAS personalities for potentially being selected to be posted to RMAS as an instructor. The cadre runs once a year in February/March and I’ll be honest it was quite a journey getting to this stage but the process was also very rewarding. You must be a substantial Sergeant who has served for 2 years before applying to attend the cadre. You can also attempt the cadre twice. If successfully selected you would
be posted to RMAS for 2 years instructing Officer Cadets.
My journey began in 2015 when I was lucky enough to be posted to ATC(Pirbright) as a Phase 1 Instructor. This is where I had the opportunity to increase my teaching experience and attend courses to gain the qualifications required to attend the cadre. Some of the mandatory pre-requisites include the All Arms Skill At Arms (AASAA) Instructor, All Arms Live Firing Tactical
Training (AA LFTT), MATT 3 Instructor and Section Commanders Battle Course (SCBC). Although it is not a requirement to have been posted in an instructional role however it does benefit your development, experience and understanding by being exposed to this type of environment.
What if you’re interested?
The first step would be to find out if you actually like instructing so I’d strongly suggest presenting to different audiences on various topics, for example within the dental centre, at a regional training event or to your local unit. My first taste of instructing was in 2008 conducting pre-deployment training, teaching BCDT lessons for my regiment... back in the day before I transferred to RADC. Believe it or not, I used to get really nervous speaking in front of people, but the way I overcame it was by challenging myself and developing confidence through experience. If you discover that you do enjoy it then get yourself onto the AMS Potential Instructor Course at DMA(W) where they can assess your capability and advise further.
The next step is to attend the RMAS Instructor Cadre Briefing Course (ICBC). This is simply a day or two receiving information about the cadre itself, what it entails, what pre-requisites are required and what life would be like at RMAS. There are currently no assessments on this briefing course
and you have the opportunity to ask lots
of questions to RMAS staff. From there, continue to liaise with your Line Managers and express your interest as you will need
their recommendation on your SJAR and they can help guide and support you.
You need to complete all of the mandatory pre-requisite courses in order to be able
to apply to attend the cadre. Most courses can be applied for via the Infantry Courses Handbook or DMA(W). The application
for the cadre itself is done through your
Line Manager and your Desk Officer at
APC Glasgow. The DIN is usually released around September/October of the previous year. Lastly, before going on the cadre it is essential to have a good working knowledge of the Combat Estimate (also known as the 7 Questions) and be able to deliver Orders effectively. As well as this, you need to be mentally robust and physically fit. The cadre is designed to put you under pressure.
What happens on the Cadre?
You arrive at RMAS in a suit, with all of your kit including your bergen and webbing, any instructional aids you may wish to use and your own Combat Estimate (CE) folder etc. Whilst on the cadre you are required to plan, deliver and critique a number of lessons in subjects such as Foot Drill, Rifle, MATT 3 and Fieldcraft. However, you do not know how many or what lessons you will teach prior to the cadre commencing. The first few days are mainly briefings and then you are told which lessons to prepare during your time on the cadre. I prepared 17 lessons altogether, delivered 4 lessons and critiqued 4 lessons (delivered by other personnel on the cadre). However, this varied from person to person.
You will participate in discussions from scenarios and exercises both with personnel on the cadre and with Officer Cadets. You
One of the command tasks required us to go through this
32 RADC BULLETIN 2021
DEVELOPMENT