An Cosantóir

24 | lege was the location for the 2 RDF Standard Officers Course in 2011. The course was adminis- tered and delivered by gradu- ates of 1 RDF Standard Officers Course and PDF instructors from the OTW. All RDF career courses, with RDF OFFICERS RAISING THE STANDARD T BY CAPTAIN JOE SARgEANT (62ND RES INF BN) he Officer Training Wing (OTW) of the Infantry School in the Military Col- the exception of Potential NCOs courses, are now run in the Infantry School. This will lead to standardization across the RDF and an increase in interoperability with the PDF. The RDF Standard Officers course is based on the PDF's Junior Command & Staff course and its general objective is to provide RDF officers with command and staff education and training by developing their command, leadership, analytical and com- munications skills. It provides a broad tactical and technical understanding of military capabilities at company level and an understanding of battalion-level operations. Successful completion of the course qualifies an officer for promotion to the rank of commandant in a variety of com- mand and staff appointments. Special objectives include: providing students with a com- prehensive knowledge of the duties and procedures involved in the command of an infantry company/battalion, in all phases of war; to familiarise students with the combined arms concept; and to give students a working knowledge of battalion staff skills and techniques. The Standard Officers course represents a six-month commitment from students, from February to July, taking in weekends, distance learning and full-time training. Prior completion of the RDF YOs course is an advantage but not essential. The intended end state is to enable students to effectively hold command or staff appointments at com- mandant level, in the context of conventional operations and operations-other-than-war. The course comprised two modules, the first of which was completed by the students in their home brigades via weekly submissions on the Reserve Technology Enhanced Learning (RESTEL) system, supported by weekends in the RDFTA culminating in an assessment test. (The RESTEL system provides an online resource, allowing monitored, directed study, continuous assessment and online testing. All required course material is available to the students via the An Cosantóir March 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie system. RESTEL also facilitates student/instructor discussion forums and messaging.) Module Two comprised a full-time training period in the OTW. Module One is designed to equip the students with a stan- dard of expertise, prior to the commencement of Module Two, in the areas of command and staff duties; combat sup- port; combat service support; training management; com- mand, leadership, and organizational studies; and human resource management; Due to the large amount of material to be covered in Module One, a serious commitment to distance-learning and home-study is required and should not be underestimated. An in depth knowledge of the subject matter is essential as it is required at all stages of Module Two. During Module One, students are divided into syndicates and assigned a strategic studies project. This year each syndicate was required to prepare 90-minute presentations on aspects of Operation 'Husky', the Allied invasion of Sicily 1943, to be delivered on the first weekend of Module Two. Points were awarded on an individual and syndicate basis towards the overall course result. Continuation to Module Two is dependent on successful completion of the assessment test, a two-hour, closed-book exam under Military College examination conditions, con- ducted on the final weekend of Module One. Module Two delivers instruction in: practical preparation for tactical operations; combat support; operations-other- than-war (OOTW); and strategic studies. The bulk of Module Two, however, is concerned with providing a practical understanding of the military decision- making process (MDMP). The MDMP, combined with the troop leadership and preparation process (TLPP) and the

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