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 Course (Senior Airmen) Course: 6-week residential course for senior airmen who have met the eligibility criteria and who are commissioning as Air Force officers
Warrant Officer Commissioning Course: 2-week
residential course for Warrant Officers who are commissioning as officers
Single
Service Training for Australian Defence Force Academy students: conducted over three years, in four phases:
- 1A - 2-week residential course
- 1B - 2-week residential course
- 2A - 5-week residential course
- 3B - 2-week residential course.
Initial
Officer (Active Reserves) Course: five phases of training for RAAF Active Reserve Officers, consisting
of:
- Phase One - external course at home reserve squadron
- Phase Two - 2-week residential course
- Phase Three - 1-week residential course
- Phase Four - external course at home reserve squadron
- Phase Five - 2-week residential course
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 inspire excellence in operationally focused Air Force Officers.
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
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.
In January 2008, Officers' Training
School moved from Point Cook to the new facility at RAAF Base East Sale. The
official opening of the new facility was conducted on the 14th March 2008.
Today
The definition of the role of OTS is
much as it was at the unit's inception. The unit conducts the majority of
initial officer training for Air Force via the Initial Officer Course. The Initial
Officer Course is structured and delivered to cater not only for Permanent Air Force
students, but RAAF Active Reserve (RAAFAR) officer trainees and RAAF specific
training for RAAF officer cadets of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
In this way, OTS graduates around 200 students from the full Initial Officer
Course, and trains roughly an additional 300 RAAFAR and ADFA students at
various times in any one year. In addition, OTS conducts the Reserve Specialist
Officer Familiarisation course bi-annually.
The Initial Officer Course syllabus
places an emphasis on leadership training, adventurous and experiential
learning, the development of high levels of individual commitment,
responsibility and team orientation. The practical aspects of the course
include several field deployments which develop leadership, management, ground
defence and teamwork skills. Coupled with a broad academic program, the course
develops the knowledge, attitudes and skills for a professional officer corps
that can meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
OTS directing staff have the
responsibility of being role-models and mentors; emphasis is placed on
encouragement and support. The directing staff are assigned to each course of
students and participate in all aspects of the course including adventurous and
physical training and the full range of classroom and field activities.
OTS is also responsible for
overseeing Single Service Training for RAAF officer cadets of the Defence Force Academy.
This training, together with the Common Military Training taught at the
Academy, give the Academy students the equivalent of the IOC.
OTS was also made responsible for
the New Gap Year commitment. This training is conducted at the old OTS area in
Point Cook. With the structure of OTS coming under the banner of RAAFCOL training
of IOC and Gap Year students is continuing at an extremely high level.

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