Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2006/RANSAC - value for Defence - value for grads
By LCDR Stephen Daws
It's a win-win result for Navy and its people when graduates of the RAN Staff Acquaint Course (RANSAC) apply knowledge and skills from this intensive and demanding training program to their naval and civilian employment.
RANSAC is a carefully constructed program that delivers an abbreviated format of the full-time Australian Command and Staff Course, but incorporates key components in a more flexible structure.
The knowledge and skills acquired from RANSAC are necessary for higher level command and staff appointments to greatly enhance the flexibility and employability of officers.
The curriculum covers naval and joint operations, maritime and military strategy, the development of generic staff officer skills, and a flexible learning approach. It has grown from its inception in 1982 as a two-week course undertaken solely by Naval Reserve officers, to a 12-month developmental program that is now highly relevant to officers of all three Services, Permanent and Reserve, full-time or part-time, and selected APS officers. In a first for RANSAC, two participants from the Australian Public Service are completing the current course.
Course quality and continuous improvement is assured, with directing staff applying their collective 120 years of operational, educational, maritime and joint experience to the course, supplemented by active listening skills for anyone who has a value- add suggestion for course improvements.
The RANSAC Course Directing Staff is headed by CMDR Alan Regan, ably assisted by CMDRs Steve Rowley, Paul Taylor, David Goble, Fabian Purcell and LCDR Andrew St John-Brown.
To maintain high quality, relevance and currency, two directing staff have attended overseas staff colleges (US Naval War College and the Canadian Joint Reserve Staff Course) as study tours. Pertinent knowledge gained has been incorporated into the RANSAC curriculum.
A variety of student backgrounds - a variety of perspectives!!
RANSAC graduates have traditionally come from broad specialisations within Navy, including pilots, engineers, supply, training systems, seaman (including PWOs), career reservists (such as maritime trade organisation, intelligence), medical, dental and nursing.
But this is only part of the RANSAC student background scope.
For instance, past graduates include academics; merchant seamen; management consultants; Antarctic research officers; and building engineers. This year's graduates included a chaplain; a BAe Systems project manager; a commander from Navy Headquarters; an officer from the Attorney-General's Department; a Defence manager in psychology services; a PN pilot from HMAS Albatross; Customs and others. Participants on the current course include a barrister; shipping line operations manager; obstetrician; company director; public relations officer; an officer from the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme; and a chaplain. This variety of students broadens the specialist background knowledge of the student cohort. Their specialist knowledge and professional skills enhance the value of their contributions to the course. For the same reason, they add value to workplace productivity when engaged with the PNF.
Who does RANSAC target?
Admission to RANSAC is selective and is open to senior lieutenant to commander (equivalent) levels from any branch or list of the and the . Army, RAAF and Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve officers may nominate through their Service channels. Commonwealth Public Servants at APS6/EL1 are also eligible. The US, Canadian and UK Navies are showing keen interest in having their personnel attend RANSAC.
RANSAC nominations for the next course (expected to begin in October 2007) will be sought early next year: completed applications need to reach the College before March 3
