Page 54 - RADC 2020

C&S JOBS
the parapet and apply for the full 26-week ICSC(L) course.
“There are only four types of officer. First, there are the lazy, stupid ones. Leave them alone, they do no harm... Second, there
are the hard-working, intelligent ones. They make excellent staff officers, ensuring that every detail is properly considered. Third, there are the hard-working, stupid ones. These people are a menace and must be fired at once. They create irrelevant work for everybody. Finally, there are the intelligent, lazy ones. They are suited for the highest office.” Erich von Manstein
The Experience
Turning up at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, I momentarily wondered if I made the right choice, stepping outside
the familiar comfort zone of dentistry. The prospect of 7 months of weekly-commuting with a baby and toddler at home was also uncomfortable but was overcome with pragmatism. However, I needn’t have feared, all in all, it was a positive experience.
“Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring!” LCpl Jones, Dad’s Army
In true institutional form, the course format is based on terms; the Foundation term
and the Operations term, and students are grouped into syndicates for each. Although there’s no escaping that students are in competition for ranking, my experience
was that people generally made the effort to invest in each other and I never felt that I was unwanted ballast, at risk of being chucked out of the lifeboat.
The programme consists of syndicate activities, central lectures, reflective
time, and for the first time in my career, I experienced the occasional mythical “sports afternoon”! There were several formative and summative assessments; written and verbal briefs on topics such as Global Effects on Defence (GEOD), Capability and Acquisition and Land Warfare, an exam on Higher Management of Defence, and an essay on Leadership.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein.
The Foundation term was mostly about conceptual and analytical thought, which
I felt used many of the skills we are used to in the field of dentistry, either through clinical problem-solving or assignments for postgraduate studies.
“The best tank terrain is that without anti- tank weapons” Russian military doctrine.
The second term was the operations term; we were taught the Combat Estimate,
Sitting around the campfire at our American DS’s hunting cabin at his farm in Kansas
52 RADC BULLETIN 2020
the Tactical estimate, and even spent two weeks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas learning the US MDMP (Military Decision-Making Process).
We also spent a week in France for a mix of student-led and DS-led study of Normandy, a real highlight towards the end of the course.
“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender”. Winston Churchill
To accommodate the various backgrounds of the 200-strong cohort, most of the teaching was done assuming little prior experience. This was very welcome, coming from a clinical background; although I still don’t know it all now, the course has nevertheless given me exposure to some
of the activities and areas of the Army and Defence that gives me insight as to “what it’s all for”.
General Melchett: “Field Marshal Haig has formulated a brilliant new tactical plan to ensure final victory in the field.”
Blackadder: “Ah. Would this brilliant plan involve us climbing out of our trenches and walking very slowly towards the enemy?”
Captain Darling: “How could you possibly know that, Blackadder?! It’s classified information!”.
What I have learnt
Although I learnt a lot on the course, it was the start of what has continued to be
a (at times steep!) learning curve. I liken it to dental school, where we are taught the various tools and techniques to manage patients, but it’s the Foundation Dentist year when you truly get the experience by seeing a greater volume of patients. Similarly, I was not an experienced Staff Officer on completion of ICSC(L); my IG2 (Initial Grade 2) Staff appointment at Army HQ has enabled me to use some of the tools and techniques we were taught, and it continues to be a progressive learning experience. Crucially ICSC(L) has given me a network
of people who now work in various parts of the Army, from a whole array of capbadges, which has been useful in my current role at Army HQ and doubtless into the future.
Although the course is named Intermediate Command and Staff course, there is little command element aside from taking on command and leadership roles in the planning processes during Ops Term. Some of the theory is taught, but this is not a course that exercises practical application of command. It teaches the Staff Officer skills and the Command is the responsibility of us as Army Officers to have the will to develop through experience and with the application of emotional intelligence.
“You must aim at the Staff College but for the love of God never become a professional Staff Officer. Never lose touch with the troops. Remember that you serve the troops and it is the troops who matter. They are the folk who win victories, take care of your men and they will never let you down”. Richard Meinertzhahen, 1899.