Personnel & Training of RAAF (1971)

Despite the ever-increasing technological complexity and cost of the RAAF's aircraft and supporting equipment, the most important resource within the RAAF still remains the men and women, who man, maintain and otherwise support those aircraft. The RAAF is required to fulfil its role by operating both independently and in conjunction with the Navy and Army. Consequently, a very wide range of services and skills have to be provided by the men and women of the RAAF.

The principal manning classifications in the RAAF are shown in the following list of general classifications:

General Duties	Aircrew.
Engineering	Aircraft, Armament, Radio, Transport.
Medical	Dental, Nursing, Hygiene, Pharmaceutical.
Equipment	Supply, Catering, Accommodation, Airfield Works.
Accountant
Special Duties	Administrative, Air Defence, Air Traffic Control, Intelligence, Legal, Photographic, Education, Provost, Ground Defence.
WRAAF	Communications, Clerical Duties, Stewardess.
Chaplains

With the exception of the General Duties Branch and the Chaplains' Branch, each general classification has an officer-N.C.O.-airman rank structure. In total, there are some thirty commissioned categories and about 100 other musterings, all of which are inter-dependent in achieving the aim of the RAAF.

The RAAF is organised so that there are many executive. supervisory, and operative levels within each of the eight broad classifications previously mentioned.

The organisational pyramid is always headed by a pilot who is responsible for our operational effectiveness and is Chairman of the Air Board.

The other four permanent Board members comprise one pilot two specialist officers and the Secretary, Department of Air, who hold Ministerial delegations for the direction of personnel technical, supply and financial activities of the Service.

The RAAF organisation is also threaded with the principle that a general duties officer will normally command bases and units, unless a specific technical or training function calls for a specialist commander.

These two attractive WRAAFs are typical of many young women who join the Air Force today.

On a recruiting campaign in Sydney, they posed for the photographer in front of the El Alamein Fountain at Kings Cross.

Ultimate rank in a chosen classification is determined by the level to which a profession or a trade is taken in the organisational pyramid and by the member's promotion potential. Within each trade-skill structure, promotion is determined by five factors:

Basic qualifications;
- Performance on training courses;
- Performance at assigned duties;
- Time in present rank; and
- Vacancies in next rank.

The RAAF places significant emphasis upon merit and in the commissioned ranks especially, promotion on a time basis ceases at a lower level than in the other Services. There is an extensive system of study courses available to promotion examination candidates. Performance will have been noted as an important factor in assessing suitability for promotion. There is a comprehensive reporting system which has been refined over the years and is believed to be the best and fairest of its kind available. A team of psychologists is employed within the Service to ensure that this situation continues.

The need for all three Services to share in the national pool of military manpower means that RAAF conditions of service cannot differ basically from those of the Navy and Army. The RAAF is fortunate in that the high skill levels needed in the Service produce a degree of self-discipline which almost eliminates the case for a rigid military environment. However, these skill levels can only be achieved by intensive training which is usually costly. Consequently, all initial engagements are for a certain minimum period, which is lengthened as the member undertakes further courses to enhance his promotion and career prospects.

One of the problems in RAAF conditions of service is the requirement for some members to change their employment locations at varying intervals.

There are good reasons for this posting process. Firstly, it is normal policy for our operational squadrons and training units not to be co-located.

RAAF photographer Sergeant Ray Weidon, is engrossed in his work as he takes aerial shots of tarmac activities from a Sioux helicopter of No. 1 Aviation Regiment at Amberley, Queensland.

The camera is an f24, 5 inch: X 5 inch format fitted with 5 inch wide angle lens, and takes up to 120 exposures.

Smartly attired in their working and walking-out uniforms, these four RAAF nursing sisters make a very attractive picture. Two of the girls are showing off some recently-introduced RAAF nursing attire. They are the new uniform for aero-medical evacuations (right) and the white cap of the 'on duty' nursing sister which has replaced the traditional white veil of hospital ward sisters (left). The nursing sisters are (from left): Section Officer C. J. Alford, Section Officer H. G. Watson, Section Officer D. E. Banner and Squadron Officer B. A. F. Carroll. The new aero-medical evacuation uniform of over-blouse, slacks and beret has replaced the shirt, slacks and forage cap outfit previously worn by the RAAF nurses.

Secondly, all personnel (and their families) should share the many advantages which accrue from an assignment to Malaysia, Europe or North America. Finally, we replace personnel serving in Vietnam every twelve months.

The changes in manning plans brought about by promotions, transfers or retirements necessitate a constant inflow of replacements. There is also the requirement to meet the needs of members who have compassionate reasons for re-assignment. The magnitude of the problem is better appreciated when one realises that, if one airman is posted out of a unit, another is required to replace him while a third member has to move on to make way for the outgoing member. Each single posting usually generates three individual movements, although every endeavour is made to keep personnel upheaval down to minimum essential levels.

Today, every member's personal preference regarding posting is stored in a computer, thus permitting rapid and accurate nomination of each member most suited to a particular assignment.

RAAF Academy cadets undertake university training as well as a flying course at Point Cook, Victoria. Here Mr. Owen Matta, senior lecturer in communications at the Academy, instructs two cadets in the use of field intensity and noise meter equipment. The cadets are Senior Air Cadet R. J. Hookey, of Glenrowan, Victoria, and Cadet Under Officer H. J. Badower, of Hawthorn, Victoria.

RAAF training aircraft in formation over the Victorian countryside. In the foreground, a Winjeel trainer is flanked by a Macchi jet trainer (centre) and a Vampire jet trainer. The Macchi has replaced the Vampire as the first jet training aircraft for young RAAF pilots. The Winjeels are based at Point Cook, Victoria, and the Macchi trainers at Pearce, Western Australia.

TRAINING SYSTEMS FOR THE RAAF

The RAAF has to obtain its manpower on a competitive basis and usually entrants are not initially to the standard required for their chosen employment. Therefore the RAAF has developed a large training organisation to prepare its members for their Service career and in many cases for subsequent employment in civilian life. This represents the RAAF contribution to the national pool of skilled manpower.

The RAAF offers over 400 air training and ground training courses, some of which are at tertiary level. In addition to those courses which the RAAF specifically requires a member to undertake, opportunities are available for the member to further his own education within RAAF time or at RAAF expense. To ensure best utilisation of our resources, training in management and job study is appropriately deepened as a career progresses. Corresponding qualifications are a valuable asset throughout one's working life.

RAAF ACADEMY

The RAAF continues to apply the principle that its future commanders and senior staff officers should preferably have graduated at tertiary level. At Point Cook RAAF Academy, students have outstanding facilities with which to undertake a four-year course, which awards a science or engineering degree and a permanent commission in the Service.

The Academy course is one of the most rigorous educational schemes in this country and the student needs considerable determination and spirit if he is to succeed. To sustain his ambition during the course, we have introduced formal flying training into the Academy syllabus. All students now train to solo standard in Winjeel aircraft in the second year of their Academy course.

AIRCREW TRAINING SCHEME

The Aircrew Training Scheme is designed to provide us with most of our aircrews (pilots, navigators and air electronics officers). These officers are the major source of our executive personnel and have the same career potential as the Academy graduate. Pilot training took a big step forward in January 1969, when the Macchi jet trainer was introduced to RAAF service. The Macchi is a modern training aircraft and carries the advanced navigation aids and flight displays which will make all-weather training sorties a routine operation. This Trainer's excellent handling characteristics will enable students to fly solo with less than fifteen hours dual instruction.

All potential pilots are processed through a period of Winjeel training at Point Cook before moving to Pearce, Western Australia. At Point Cook students are taught elementary flying sequences and an assessment is made of their potential for further pilot training. In this manner, wastage on the more expensive Macchi is minimised and marginal students are spared a frustrating experience.

The training scheme for navigators and air electronics officers changed significantly in 1969. A new wide-performance aircraft, the H-S.748, became the airborne classroom for navigators and A.E.O.s. Carrying a representative range of the equipment installed in our operational aircraft, the H-S-748 overcame the performance and equipment deficiencies of the Dakota.

Synthetic navigation and communications training facilities have been built at East Sale in Victoria. The combination of the new aircraft with the ground trainer enables the RAAF to graduate navigators and A.E.O.s at standards previously obtained only after considerable squadron experience.