Officers' Training School

Introduction

Officers' Training School (OTS) is charged with the responsibility of creating the leaders of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). All individuals aspiring to a commission in the Air Force must undertake training through Officers' Training School.

Approximately 200-300 students graduate from OTS each year. The course is very demanding, requiring physical and mental toughness. These demands provide the means to measure the students' suitability for leadership.

The school works to transform officer trainees into leaders with integrity, professionalism, loyalty, determination, pride and dedication to the Air Force. The training aims to prepare the students for their careers as officers and leaders by providing them with skills in decision-making, communication, management and leadership.

Courses

OTS uses a competency-based approach to training and assessment and a modular course structure, which allows OTS to tailor training for the requirements of direct entry officers and officers commissioning from the ranks. The courses conducted include:

Initial Officer Course (IOC): 17-week residential course for new members of the Air Force

Initial Officer (Warrant Officer) Course: 3.4-week residential course for Warrant Officers who are commissioning as officers

Initial Officer (Senior Airmen) Course: 6-week residential course for senior airmen who are commissioning as officers

Single Service Training for Australian Defence Force Academy students: conducted over three years, in four phases:

Initial Officer (Active Reserves) Course: five phases of training for RAAF Active Reserve Officers, consisting of:

Reservist Senior Airmen and Warrant Officers are granted recognition of prior learning when commissioning, and are only required to complete phases four (modified version) and five.

Mission

Prepare Air Force junior officers to be effective leaders within the Australian Defence Organisation.

Vision

To be respected as the ADF's leading officer training establishment.

Command Structure

OTS Command Structure

Location

Officers' Training School is located at RAAF East Sale, Sale, in Victoria, Australia.

The address is:

Officers' Training School RAAF East Sale, Sale, VIC 3852

Phone: 03 51466600

Student Enquiries: Defence Recruiting 13 19 01

History

Officers’ Training School was formed under the command of WGCDR P.J. McMahon DFC on 12 April 1950. It was originally at RAAF Station Rathmines, a World War II flying boat base located at Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. Later reorganisations of training requirements saw each flight of OTS become an independent squadron. Thus on 16 May 1956 Officers’ Training Flight became Officers' Training Squadron.

The last course to graduate from the Officers’ Training Squadron, No 30 Officer Initial Training Course, did so on 3 November 1960. RAAF Station Rathmines was closed down in December 1960. On 9 January 1961, the squadron was relocated to Point Cook and renamed Officers’ Training School. At the end of 1986, the school was closed and its functions absorbed into the RAAF College structure. However, in July 1998, OTS once again became an independent unit with a Wing Commander as Commanding Officer. The school’s motto is “Accept Responsibility”, which is both a reminder and a charge to staff and students alike.

Crest

Motto - ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

Description - A quill pointed downwards and sword pointed upwards, saltire charged, clenched in a mailed gauntlet erect.

Reason for Design - The mailed gauntlet indicates strength of purpose; the pen learning and education; the sword, the traditional weapon for an officer or leader, indicates leadership; all three desirable attributes of an officer

Crown Bound By - St Edward