Air Force Training Group RAAF

Air Force Training Group is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) group responsible for training personnel. It is headquartered at RAAF Williams, Victoria. The group was established as Training Command in 1953. It formed part of Support Command between from 1959 to 1990, when it was re-established as Training Command. In July 2006, Training Command was re-formed as Air Force Training Group under Air Command. Air Force Training Group units are organised into Air Training Wing, Ground Training Wing, Reserve Training Wing, and RAAF College.

Establishment and evolution

Air Force Training Group was established as Training Command at Albert Park, Victoria, on 1 September 1953.^[1] It was formed from Southern Area Command, which was the hub of RAAF training services at the time.^[2] Training Command merged with Maintenance Command to form Support Command on 7 September 1959.^[1][3] On 7 February 1990, Training Command was re-established as a discrete organisation, headquartered at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria. The headquarters re-located to RAAF Williams (Laverton Base) on 1 January 1999.^[1] On 1 July 2006, Training Command was re-formed as Air Force Training Group under Air Command.^[4]

Responsibilities and bases

Air Force Training Group is responsible for the provision of training to members of the RAAF, as well as some personnel from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and overseas defence forces. It also develops training policy and procedures, and supports Air Force public relations activities through the Roulettes aerobatic team, the RAAF Balloon, RAAF Museum, and the Air Force Band. Its units are located at bases in every Australian state and mainland territory.^[4]

Structure

Air Force Training Group comprises a headquarters and four major components, or wings: Air Training Wing, Ground Training Wing, Reserve Training Wing, and RAAF College. These components oversee several flying units, ground schools, reserve squadrons, and the Air Force Band.^[4]

Commander

As of 2013, Air Force Training Group's commander was Air Commodore Brian Edwards.^[5]

Components

Headquarters Air Force Training Group

Headquarters Air Force Training Group (HQ AFTG) is located at RAAF Williams (Laverton Base), Victoria. HQ AFTG is responsible for the management of RAAF training through the development of policy and plans, design and review of training programs, evaluation of relevant technology, and the issuing of awards recognising staff qualifications and achievements.^[4]

Air Training Wing

Pilatus PC-9 of No. 2 Flying Training School in 2008

Air Training Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria,^[6] oversees flying instruction for RAAF and other Australian Defence Force personnel, training for air combat officers and air traffic controllers, and public flying displays. It controls several units across Australia:^[4]

• Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School at Tamworth, New South Wales
• No. 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia
• Central Flying School at RAAF Base East Sale
• No. 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale
• School of Air Warfare at RAAF Base East Sale
• School of Air Traffic Control at RAAF Base East Sale
• RAAF Museum at RAAF Williams (Point Cook base)

The Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School is responsible for flight screening and basic flying instruction for the RAAF, RAN and Australian Army; the school conducts training under a contract with BAE Systems Australia and operates C/T4B Airtrainers.^[7] No. 2 Flying Training School is responsible for advanced flying instruction for both the RAAF and RAN, and operates Pilatus PC-9 aircraft.^[4] Central Flying School also operates PC-9s, and is responsible for training flight instructors and maintaining flying standards across the RAAF;^[4][8] it controls the Roulettes aerobatic team and the RAAF Balloon.^[9][10] No. 32 Squadron operates Beechcraft King Air B350 aircraft, which support the School of Air Warfare.^[4] RAAF Museum operates several types of heritage aircraft for flying displays.^[11]

Ground Training Wing

Ground Training Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base Wagga, New South Wales,^[12] is responsible for providing technical and other non-flying training to Air Force personnel.^[13] Part of AFTG when the group was formed in 2006, Ground Training Wing merged with RAAF College on 1 January 2008, before being re-raised as a separate wing on 1 December 2009.^[13][14] The wing controls several schools in New South Wales and Queensland:^[13]

• RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training at RAAF Base Wagga
• RAAF School of Technical Training at RAAF Base Wagga
• Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills, New South Wales
• RAAF Security and Fire School at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland
• Combat Survival Training School at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland

Reserve Training Wing

No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron passes Civic Square during the unit's Freedom of the City parade, 2013

Reserve Training Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley, provides ground training to the Air Force Reserve, and supports Australian Defence Force units utilising Air Force Reserve personnel.^[4] It was formed on 18 May 1998 as Combat Reserve Wing, under Combat Support Group, and renamed Reserve Training Wing on 1 January 2006.^[15] The wing controls ten squadrons based throughout Australia:^[4]

• No. 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron at RAAF Base Darwin, Northern Territory ^[16]
• No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron at RAAF Williams (Laverton Base) ^[17]
• No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales ^[18]
• No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley ^[19]
• No. 24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia ^[20]
• No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia ^[21]
• No. 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales ^[22]
• No. 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron at RAAF Base Townsville ^[23]
• No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron at HMAS Harman, Canberra ^[24]
• No. 29 (City of Hobart) Squadron at Anglesea Barracks, Hobart, Tasmania ^[25]

RAAF College

RAAF College, headquartered at RAAF Base Wagga,^[12] is responsible for career development, promotion and leadership training.^[4] It was formed at RAAF Base Point Cook on 1 August 1947, and reorganised as RAAF Academy in 1961. It re-formed again as RAAF College in 1986, following the establishment of the tri-service Australian Defence Force Academy. The college took over the schools and responsibilities of Ground Training Wing on 1 January 2008, before the latter was re-raised as a separate organisation on 1 December 2009.^[13][14] RAAF College controls several units in New South Wales and Victoria:^[13]

• No. 1 Recruit Training Unit at RAAF Base Wagga
• School of Postgraduate Studies at RAAF Base Wagga
• Officers' Training School at RAAF Base East Sale
• Defence International Training Centre at RAAF Williams
• Air Force Band at RAAF Williams

Notes

References

• McPhedran, Ian (2011). Air Force: Inside the New Era of Australian Air Power. Sydney: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-7322-9025-2. 
• Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42803-1. 
• Wilson, Stewart (ed.) (2011). Royal Australian Air Force 1921–2011. St Leonards, New South Wales: Nextmedia. OCLC 741331362.