Royal Australian Army Education Corps
Encyclopedia
The Royal Australian Army Educational Corps (RAAEC) is a specialist corps within the Australian Army
. Formed in 1949, the corps had its genesis in other services that existed within the Australian forces during World War I
and World War II
. It is currently made up entirely of commissioned officers
and the corps is responsible for the provision of education-related services within the Army. Its various roles include instruction, designing computer-based learning materials, training development, administration, language training, and command, leadership and management.
by King George VI in 1949.
The corps grew out of the Australian Army Education Service (AAES), which was established on 29 October 1943 during World War II
, under the command of Colonel Robert Madgwick
. Through the AAES, the corps draws its lineage from the Australian Army Education Scheme which was established under Madgwick on 5 March 1941. That scheme itself was based loosely upon a vocational education scheme that had been established during World War I
within the Australian Imperial Force
in 1918 under George Merrick Long
as part of the demobilisation and repatriation process.
Throughout its history, the corps has deployed members to support Australian forces deployed on operations. Initially, they deployed to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
, where they provided education support for service personnel and their children. Later, members of the corps were sent to Korea during the Korean War
where they were attached at battalion level to provide soldiers with training in the field. During the Vietnam War
, RAAEC personnel were deployed to support the 1st Australian Task Force
at Nui Dat.
and the Australian Defence Force Academy
, managing and conducting long-distance education, teaching English to foreign students, analysing education proposals, developing tranining, and delivering literacy and numeracy and "train the trainer" programs to non commissioned officers (NCOs) on promotion courses.
Currently, the corps is made up entirely of commissioned officers
in the specialist service officer/professionally qualified stream, although in the past the RAAEC has had some NCOs allocated to it. The majority of the corps' personnel are civil qualified teachers; however, additional information technology specialists have been laterally recruited to manage the computer-based learning packages within the Army Learning Production Centre.
Members of the RAAEC are posted to a number of locations including:
The current Colonel-in-Chief of the RAAEC is The Duchess of Gloucester. The current Head of the Corps is Colonel Debra Bradford.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. Formed in 1949, the corps had its genesis in other services that existed within the Australian forces during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It is currently made up entirely of commissioned officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and the corps is responsible for the provision of education-related services within the Army. Its various roles include instruction, designing computer-based learning materials, training development, administration, language training, and command, leadership and management.
History
The RAAEC was established in September 1949 as the Australian Army Educational Corps, and was granted Royal assent in 1960. Consisting of the Crown and a boomerang upon which the corps' initials are inscribed superimposed over a "fluted flambeau of flames", the current RAAEC corps badge was adopted in 1964. It is the only corps badge in the Australian Army where the crown does not appear at the top, and is based on the badge devised for the Royal Army Educational CorpsRoyal Army Educational Corps
The Royal Army Educational Corps was a corps of the British Army tasked with educating and instructing personnel in a diverse range of skills...
by King George VI in 1949.
The corps grew out of the Australian Army Education Service (AAES), which was established on 29 October 1943 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, under the command of Colonel Robert Madgwick
Robert Madgwick
Sir Robert Bowden Madgwick, OBE , Australian teacher, soldier, academic and public servant, was the first vice-chancellor of the University of New England from 1954 until 1966, and chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission from 1967 until 1973.Born in North Sydney, New South Wales in 1905,...
. Through the AAES, the corps draws its lineage from the Australian Army Education Scheme which was established under Madgwick on 5 March 1941. That scheme itself was based loosely upon a vocational education scheme that had been established during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
within the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in 1918 under George Merrick Long
George Merrick Long
George Merrick Long CBE was an Anglican bishop who had previously served as a brigadier general in the Australian Army in World War I. He was also involved in the establishment of Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne where he also became headmaster...
as part of the demobilisation and repatriation process.
Throughout its history, the corps has deployed members to support Australian forces deployed on operations. Initially, they deployed to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
, where they provided education support for service personnel and their children. Later, members of the corps were sent to Korea during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
where they were attached at battalion level to provide soldiers with training in the field. During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, RAAEC personnel were deployed to support the 1st Australian Task Force
1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force commanded the Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province...
at Nui Dat.
Current role and structure
The RAAEC is responsible for many educational areas of military training, including the development and implementation of technology and communications training at the Royal Military College, DuntroonRoyal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
and the Australian Defence Force Academy
Australian Defence Force Academy
The Australian Defence Force Academy is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force .Tertiary education is provided by the...
, managing and conducting long-distance education, teaching English to foreign students, analysing education proposals, developing tranining, and delivering literacy and numeracy and "train the trainer" programs to non commissioned officers (NCOs) on promotion courses.
Currently, the corps is made up entirely of commissioned officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the specialist service officer/professionally qualified stream, although in the past the RAAEC has had some NCOs allocated to it. The majority of the corps' personnel are civil qualified teachers; however, additional information technology specialists have been laterally recruited to manage the computer-based learning packages within the Army Learning Production Centre.
Members of the RAAEC are posted to a number of locations including:
- Headquarters Forces Command – Army: Sydney;
- Army Learning Production Centre (ALPC): Sydney, Brisbane, Albury/Wodonga;
- Defence International Training Centre (DITC): Laverton, Victoria;
- Various major training establishments in Victoria, New South Wales, Canberra and Queensland;
- Individual training centres, located in every state;
- Some overseas locations, including positions as language advisors.
The current Colonel-in-Chief of the RAAEC is The Duchess of Gloucester. The current Head of the Corps is Colonel Debra Bradford.