RAAF College
Headquarters RAAFCOL exists to support the training and combat support performed by its units. HQRAAFCOL works towards producing the best possible training outcomes and combat support with the available resources.
RAAF College currently consists of the following units:
RAAF College history
RAAF College's history extends back to the 1st of August 1947 when it was formed at Point Cook as an officer training institution. It was renamed the RAAF Academy in 1961 and commenced a partnership with Melbourne University, offering degree level education to the officer candidates progressing through it. This tradition continued until 1986 when the Australian Defence Force Academy opened in Canberra and took over responsibility for degree level officer entry education.
The Academy site and facilities at Point Cook were then used to establish a new RAAF College responsible for initial and postgraduate officer training for Air Force. Schools within the College at the time were Officers' Training School and the School of Applied Management which included responsibility for the Basic Staff Course. In 1998, the role of the College was expanded with the incorporation of airmen recruit training through No 1 Recruit Training Unit at RAAF Edinburgh and airmen promotion courses at the Airmen Leadership Flight RAAF Wagga and its two satellite training centres at Richmond and Amberley.
In 2000, RAAF College was restructured to include all officer and airmen postgraduate residential and distance learning courses under the banner of the School of Postgraduate Studies which was formed in Wagga. In 2005, the Air Force Central Band and the RAAF Museum became part of the RAAF College, followed in 2006 by the Air Command Band. By the end of 2006, RAAF College had overall responsibility for six individual units.
In January 2008, a number of RAAF College Units completed moves to new locations. Of particular note was the relocation of No 1 Recruit Training Unit to RAAF Base Wagga and Officers' Training School to East Sale. Additionally, the RAAF Central Band and the Air Command Band amalgamated to create the Air Force Band at RAAF Williams.
RAAF College Badge
The badge for the Royal Australian Air Force College incorporates the Australian Swift and the motto 'True'.
The Australian Swift is one of the speediest, high-flying birds in the world: it flies in all weathers: its flight is steadier and faster than that of the smaller swallow. In the Australian autumn, the Swifts forsake their remote summer hunting grounds and make accurately timed rendezvous: from here they navigate a course of about 5000 miles in their true, powerful and speedy manner of flight. On the ground, the Swift climbs difficult obstacles by using its whole body, back, claws and barbed tail. Its tapering swept back wings find a counterpart in the design of the modern aircraft.
'True' recalls the flight of the Swift and serves to remind us of the personal qualities which the RAAF College seeks to confirm in its graduates - loyalty, tenacity, steadfastness and accuracy.
