Page 24 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Educational and

Training Services

Branch

By Brigadier Suzanne Anderson

In the last 12 months Educational and Training Services structures have

begun to settle under the Army 2020 Refine plan. Individual Development
Branch and Education Branch continue to function.

Head of Profession
Master of
I have now moved from the position of Head of Individual Science
Development Branch in Army Headquarters to another graduation
position as the Deputy Military Secretary at the Army Personnel day
Centre but have retained the Educational and Training Services
Head of Profession role. This role was previously assumed by

the Branch’s senior officer, tied to the Director’s post, but now
that there is no longer a Brigadier’s appointment the Head of
Profession is recognised as a distinct role which is not tied to
any specific post. The appointment has been formalised as a

secondary duty and the Head of Profession is selected by the
Army Personnel Centre’s Number 2 Board, giving an additional
layer of authority and broader visibility amongst the Army
Command. The Number 2 Board in October 2018 appointed
me to the role of Educational and Training Services Head of
Profession for a further two years.
Operations Major Julian Russell presented
with the Templar Award for
his position as Top Student at
Our Regular and Reserve officers continue to ensure Service the Intermediate Command

Personnel are armed with the intellectual edge required for the and Staff College (Land) Course.

complexity of conflict and operations. The Army Educational organisation, including a new Learning Development Advisor The award was presented

Services in Regional Command are delivering operational post for Headquarters Adventurous Training Group; a new by Commander Field Army,
capability to the Field Army through their aligned Regional Learning Development Advisor in the Land Warfare Centre; Lieutenant General Patrick
Brigades, deploying with Short Term Training Teams across Lieutenant Colonel posts in the Land Warfare Centre and Sanders, and Mr Clive Lowe,

the world. The increasing demand for Learning Development the Defence College of Training Support and we have gained from the Officers’ Association.

Advisor capability has been reflected in the continued force agreement for an enduring presence in Cyprus. Our structures

generation of our qualified personnel. Over the last 12 months and deployments also have to be balanced against the need

we have deployed officers to Estonia, Jordan, Nigeria, Sierra to deliver education forward, the concept of ensuring that

Leone, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Belize, Brunei, Canada, France, all Army personnel have access locally to education officers

Iraq, Palestine and Saudi Arabia, with the requirement being and supporting functions. Driven by the Army 2020 Refine Future Training and Education 1. What is the future career structure?

met by both the Regular and Reservist component of our and the Defence Estates Optimisation Programme, planning
Branch. We have recently agreed to issue a trawl solely is maturing well to restructure the Army Educational Services As ever, there has been a lot of development with regard 2. What training and education interventions does the
amongst our Reservist community to support a Short Term in order to meet the future Army needs and ensure that to the core education and training programmes. Many of structure require?
Training Team in the Middle East as we know that we have the continued and agile delivery of educational capability. our officers have been deeply involved in the development

capabilities required in the Reserves; this has been highlighted and piloting of the new Command, Leadership and 3. What talent-based management system is needed to
as an innovative approach in its own right by the Directorate Whole Life Development Management 2019 courseware, putting our skills to deliver it?
of Reserves. excellent use. The Army Trainer Capability has now received
There have been a number of opportunities to celebrate contractual approval and the new accreditation scheme Individual Development Branch will be involved heavily
Structures and Liability success in wider Development programmes this year. The is being implemented. The External Placements cell has in the development of policy to support Question 2. As a
programme in its infancy, it is too soon to tell what changes

Army Skills Offer, which provides civilian accreditation successfully transitioned from Individual Development will be necessary, but it is likely that our Officers will play a

Despite reductions in the size of the Army, the branch for military courses, celebrated its 50,000th award and Branch to Education Branch, marking an end to the pilot and

continues to grow. Opportunities to develop our liability in has subsequently passed the 60,000 mark. In March recognition that placements into industry and academia are significant role in the training and education interventions
new and challenging contexts have been seized, and demand 2018 Education Branch organised the first annual Army now business as usual. Further ahead, Programme ‘Castle’ that will support the future career structure.

for our Skills, Qualification and Experience across the range Apprenticeship Awards, celebrating the Army’s high quality has been launched in Army Headquarters. The Programme
of ranks is high. We have responded to these opportunities Apprentices and Apprentice Champions in a ceremony at the sits in the Director Personnel portfolio and there are three
and created new appointments in key areas across the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. questions in Castle’s scope:
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