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AGC JOURNAL 2016
Individual Development
and Education Branch
By Captain Chris Smith
The Army Command Review
has led to significant changes
for the Educational and
Training Services Branch, but
has left it in a better position
to maximise the intellectual
development of the Army’s
people.
New Appointments
Brigadier Suzanne Anderson assumed
the appointment of Head of Individual
Development late last year and also
assumed the role of Educational and
Training Services Head of Profession. The
role of Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff
Education, Head of Education Branch, and
Educational and Training Services Branch
Colonel, has been assumed by Colonel
Colette MacDonald OBE.
Brigadier Suzanne Anderson
Army Command Review
The Army Command Review has driven
the restructuring of Army Headquarters
with the previous Directorate of
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Educational Capability now split into
two separate elements and taking on a
more diverse range of tasks. The four star
element, Individual Development Branch,
is to Direct, Develop and Deliver individual
development policy. Education Branch is
part of the Army Personnel Services Group
within the three star Home Command;
it ‘generates’ and ‘operates’ individual
development policies handed over by
Individual Development via the Home
Command chain.
Army Language Programme
The Army’s Low Level Language
Programme has been going from strength
to strength. This year to date has seen 439
individuals complete a range of courses. Colonel Colette MacDonald OBE
Next year (2017) sees the first Sub Unit capability but also advocates the benefits of
Command Board where the language language learning to their subordinates.
requirement will take effect. Languages
for Sub Unit Command purposes have
predominantly been French; 43 courses The Army Skills Offer
have been run to date while 13 German,
8 Arabic and 5 Spanish courses have also This initiative has been extended until
taken place. April 2017 due to an extremely successful
trial. As at October 2016, more than
The Low Level Language Programme has 37,000 applications had been received
supported eight operations and a number and processed. The initiative is open to
of Short Term Training Teams, providing both Regular and Reserve soldiers and
basic language and culture training officers and can be backdated up to 2003.
for languages such as Hindi, Bengali, The scheme aims to map the knowledge,
Amharic, Somali, Sudanese, Bosnian and skills and experience gained whilst in-
Mongolian. This clearly demonstrates an Service to civilian awarding bodies such
enhanced capability and an increased as the Chartered Management Institute or
awareness by the Field Army in language Institute of Leadership and Management,
and culture. Brush Up training has been enhancing capability and employability.
maintained for those who are taking the
Multi-Level Assessments; this incorporates Command Leadership and
up to a week’s training in a multitude of Management Surge
languages to prepare individuals for their
exam. The Command, Leadership and
The Senior Officers’ Language Programme Management ‘Surge’ is in response to
the Army’s identification of a number of
has also risen in popularity with a number soldiers who did not have the necessary
of senior officers taking up the opportunity course qualifications for promotion. This
for one to one tuition to prepare them for has resulted in a 50% increase in the
either defence engagement or operational number of places offered by the Army
roles. This not only enhances their own
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