The Australian Army has celebrated the graduation and commissioning of its next generation of leaders at the Royal Military College - Duntroon. Currently based in Lae with the PNGDF Engineer Battalion, serving as a Combat Engineer Platoon Commander. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. The RMC Band regularly performs at ceremonial and community events. RMC affiliated with the University of New South Wales to deliver its Bachelor courses, commencing in the 1968 academic year. Over the entire course, however, there was military specific training, including physical training, drill, signalling and weapon handling. He was the first of the 2nd Field Company of Australian Engineers to be killed in action at Gallipoli, and died on May 20, 1915 aged 22. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Images will be available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/S20213858, Royal Military College - Duntroon: December 2021 graduation parade. All visitors require a free timed ticket to enter the Memorial Galleries and attend the Last Post Ceremony. In the Australian Army, the Queen's Colour was the Union Jack until 1969 when royal approval was granted for the current design which is based on the Australian National Flag. 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 headquarters at Russell Hill. The Royal Military College, Duntroon, also known simply as Duntroon, is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. Additionally, they are required to parade at their unit one night a week and one weekend a month. "For a lot of [the cohort], it's been a massive change coming from civilian to army officer. [45] Recently the band has also supported Australian troops serving overseas. "The cadets that are leaving today are proven to be strong leaders of character, highly resilient, and they've got a very close-knit bond with each other," he said. [31] In 1950, however, as the size of the Corps rose to 190 cadets, a third company, designated 'C' Company was established. List Commonwealth Heritage List Class Historic Legal Status Listed place (22/06/2004) Place ID 105449 Place File No 8/01/000/0080 Summary Statement of Significance The Royal Military College Duntroon Conservation Area is the core of an institutional landscape. War correspondent and historian Charles Bean said the Duntroon officers "fought like lions". Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. [36] There is also a rehabilitation and administration company known as Bridges Company, established in October 1989. <br><br>Broader leadership experience through operational roles and international postings as a graduate of the Royal Military College - Duntroon and qualified Engineers and Military Public Affairs Officer in the Australian Army Reserves. Leading Australian soldiers, or any soldiers, is an extraordinary privilege and responsibility. RMC-Duntroon RMC-D History and Traditions RMC-D History and Traditions Drawing many influences from its colonial origins, RMC-D is steeped in customs and traditions which are unique to the Australian Army. "It's a role of service and a huge responsibility and that's obviously never changed," Platoon Sgt Smith said. The leadership and military training provided at ADFA during the three years of training is considered the equivalent of III Class at RMC. 7 December 2021. The platoon was under constant rifle, machine-gun, and shrapnel fire. [20] This resulted in the centralisation of all officer training courses under the college's auspices; this included short courses for specialist service officers such as doctors, nurses, lawyers and chaplains, under the auspices of Romani Company, as well as the delivery of the final module of the Reserve officer training continuum. These graduates were among the best and brightest Australasia had to offer. By 1943, the improved military situation made it possible to extend the course length and a three-year curriculum was introduced. | Learn more about Nikita Tamara Urum Oresi's work experience, education, connections & more by visiting their profile on LinkedIn It reads: Situated at the former Campbell homestead at Duntroon, the RMC was opened on 27 June 1911 by the Governor-General, Lord Dudley. [52], The Majura Training Area is located nearby and is currently where cadets from the College undertake the majority of their basic field training in III Class. [7], The First World War provided the college with its first chance to demonstrate its worth. Graduating on 14 August 1914, he joined the 12th Battalion, where he was made a platoon commander. Nevertheless, they continue to follow the Duntroon curriculum in modularised format, and Reserve officer cadets attend the college for their final four-week training block prior to commissioning. . In 2010, a plaque dedicated to RMC graduates was placed on the ACT Honour Walk. Staff at RMC have been reminding the trainee officers of the historic significance of their graduation. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. She served in the Army Reserves and worked full time in the public service in Canberra before realising that the Army was fulfilling her need for leadership opportunities and personal challenges. One staff cadet each from Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Qatar also graduated. [54], There are two main awards presented to cadets upon graduation: the Queen's Medal and the Sword of Honour. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has presented all subsequent sets of colours; the second set on 17 February 1954, the third set on 27 April 1970, the fourth set on 10 May 1988 and the fifth set during RMC-D's Centenerary celebrations on 22 October 2011. Essentially, this program involves undergraduate sponsorship of university students, who are appointed as Officer Cadets in the Australian Regular Army, while they study. Upon appointment to the Reserves, members join a University Regiment within their location and then undertake their training over the course of five modules run by the various University Regiments around Australia. The December 2021 graduation is particularly special as it will be the culmination of a very tough 12-18 months of training impacted by COVID-19 restrictions on several occasions. -. During their tertiary study, they train with the applicable University Regiment as reservists and conduct modules of training as they are able to fit in around their studies. The Governor-General is a RMC-D graduate, having entered the college in January, 1972, and later graduating into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps for a military career that spanned over four decades.RMC-D prepares the for careers in the Army by promoting leadership and integrity, by inspiring high-ideals and the pursuit of excellence, and by instilling a sense of duty, loyalty and service to the nation. Further information can be found in the About the Societypage. Please use With the outbreak war in August 1914, the first intake was rushed through for overseas service. Use this login for Shop items, and image, film, sound reproductions. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/duntroon-then-and-now-100-years-of-graduates/5529698, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, Engineers criticised over handling of one of the Australia's biggest natural disasters speak out, Police shoot man dead after being called to reported domestic violence incident in Sydney's south west, Anna called police to report an assault, but it backfired and she lost her home. In 1997 the Royal Military College took responsibility for overseeing the training provided to Reserve officer cadets and as a result in 1998 the Royal Military College of Australia was established as a formation. or any other modern web browser. galleries are progressively closed from 4 pm. "Those were the officers that graduated from that class and that definitely has an impression on a young officer.". This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Today the Australian Armys 135th Graduating Class from the Royal Military College Duntroon (RMC-D) graduated proudly on parade in front of family and friends in Canberra. [32] In 1986, as a result of the changing role of Duntroon, the Corps was reduced to four companies again, with Kokoda and Romani Companies being disbanded. Situated on the Campbell family homestead in Canberra, which had been named "Duntroon" (1833) after Duntrune Castletheir ancestral home on Loch Crinan in Argyll, Scotland[2]the college was one of the first Commonwealth facilities established in the newly created capital. Additional special entry classes were admitted for six, nine and twelve months. McCay, reaching the rank of lieutenant general and serving in the British Indian Army and then becoming chief-of-staff of the newly formed Pakistan Army. Cadets were to undertake a four-year officers training course, with half military and half academic subjects. The Duntroon-trained officers often stepped in and took over from their superiors who were killed in battle, ultimately commanding far more men than they were trained to lead. The sixth company, Romani, is used for Reserve officers who come to the College in January and July to complete the final module of their training. Later that day he was killed in action. She said there are some aspects of military life that have remained unchanged since 1914. First, the need for determination and composure. He died at Gallipoli and his body was returned to Australia and buried on the slopes of Mount Pleasant, overlooking the college. [35], There are currently five full-time companies making up the Corps, these are: Long Tan, Alamein, Gallipoli, Kapyong and Kokoda. While the nature of . Graduating on 14 August 1914, he joined the 12th Battalion, where he was made a platoon commander. The Royal Military College at Duntroon prepares cadets and other selected candidates for careers in the Army by promoting leadership and integrity, by inspiring high ideals and the pursuit of excellence, and by inculcating a sense of duty, loyalty and service to the nation. The military curriculum was aimed to achieve the balance between the short-term requirements of a junior regimental officer and the broader foundation necessary for senior ranks within the Army. After serving in North Africa and Greece during the Second World War, Cyril led a force at Milne Bay, Papua, in August 1942 that resulted in the first Allied land victory over the Japanese during the war. The Corps has two colours: the Queen's Colour and the Regimental Colour. Accordingly, in 1986, RMC took over the training responsibilities from all other full time Army officer training establishments including the Officer Cadet School at Portsea (Victoria), the Women's Officer Training Wing at Georges Heights (Sydney) and the Specialist Officer training wing at Canungra (Queensland). Captain Noel Ernest Biden (pictured above in an informal portrait with Lieutenant Richard John Dyer) was raised and educated in Sydney before training at Duntroon, and landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 with the 1st Field Coy Engineers. Just 18 months of training at RMC will give you transferrable skills and help you reach your full leadership potential. Lieutenant William Henry Dawkins (above right) of Ferntree Gully in Victoria embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Orvietto on October 21, 1914. Al. Royal Military College - Duntroon | 1,779 followers on LinkedIn. For this he was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 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[46], In the 1980s the band began performing shows for local charities, known as the "Strike up the Band" shows[47] and this continues today, albeit under the guise of the "Music at Midday" shows which the band performs six times a year, with proceeds going to local charities. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: I am a reporter at The Canberra Times, and was previously a trainee. The first set of colours was received by the Corps on 10 May 1927 from His Royal Highness The Duke of York (later His Majesty King George VI). [26], The majority of the cadets at Duntroon are members of the Australian Army, although the college also trains some Royal Australian Air Force personnel who are training to become Ground Defence Officers. The Royal Military College Duntroon held its first graduation ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, with 84 new . Beside the main chapel is the Changi Chapel, which was reconstructed on the site and rededicated in August 1988. These courses enabled graduates to receive exemptions, up to half a degree, on the civilian courses conducted at Universities. Membership of the Duntroon Society is open to graduates of the RMC, the Officer Cadet School (OCS), the Officer Training Unit (OTU), the Women's Royal Australian Army Officer Corps Officer Cadet School (WRAAC OCS); and to all current and former commissioned officers of the Australian Army. Other officer training establishments that have existed concurrently to RMC-D are the OCS Portsea, OCTU Scheyville and the Women's Officer Training Wing at George's Heights. The curriculum at RMC was designed as a four-year course, with half military and half academic subjects. Platoon Sergeant Kathryn Smith graduated today and will soon leave Canberra for a posting in Townsville. Now, 100 years later, RMC Duntroon is still training Army leaders. Using colours to provide a rally point in the confusion of battle dates back to the sixteenth century to maintain the morale of troops. By. After a two year absence due to COVID 19 the Royal Military College-Duntroon team is excited to again represent Australia at the 2022 Sandhurst Competition. British top brass at Gallipoli were so impressed they described the Duntroon-trained officers as being "worth their weight in gold". "For a lot of people, this may be the most challenging thing they've ever achieved," he said. Brigadier Duncan said that the June 2022 cohort was representative of how Army must operate: as part of a Joint and Partnered force. He had entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, on 22 June 1911 as part of the first intake of cadets. In 1914, the first batch of Australian Army officers graduated from Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon. ADFA Army graduates were granted six months advanced standing because of training conducted during study breaks. The final six-and-a-half-week module of the Reserve officer course is conducted at Duntroon. Thus the Commandant is responsible for the delivery of all common point of entry and career milestone courses for all ranks from private to major. An example of this is the officers' mess, known as 'Duntroon House', which is an imposing stone building, that was actually built as the Campbell family's house before the land was purchased by the Crown. "It was offered that they go off to the war - finish early - and every man volunteered. [3] The Australian Government first rented the Duntroon homestead for two years (November 1910 July 1912) and finally acquired the freehold to the estate and 150 hectares (370 acres) after the creation of the federal capital. He was 20 years old. We pay our respects to elders past and present. 1. The Royal Military College atDuntroon prepares cadets and other selected candidates for careers in the Army by promoting leadership and integrity, by inspiring high ideals and the pursuit of excellence, and by inculcating a sense of duty, loyalty and service to the nation. It was founded at Duntroon, in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence headquarters at Russell Hill. Staff Cadets are allocated to one of the five companies of the Corps while progressing from III Class to I Class over the course of eighteen months. To graduate, cadets had to achieve passes in both military and academic studies and leadership. This competition determines the Sovereign's Company and company seniority generally. Royal Military College, Duntroon (RMC-D) is an Australian Army school located in Canberra that was established in 1911. The next three intakes were also shortened and the majority of cadets in the first four intakes served with either the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) or the New Zealand Army. Are bills set to rise? Lieutenant General Cyril Clowes and Major General Norman Clowes, Accession Number: Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Duntroon is adjacent to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), which is Australian Defence Force's tri-service military academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy. On 27 June 1911, the first intake of cadets comprised 32 Australians and 10 New Zealanders. [64], Media related to Royal Military College, Duntroon at Wikimedia Commons, The Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Reserve Units of the Royal Military College Australia, According to Coulthard-Clark 1986, p. 41, the College's motto was taken from. Branch: Australian Army. Under Officer Xavier is a veteran of Afghanistan and his experience on the frontline inspired him to take on a leadership role and train as an officer. Indeed, Singaporean cadets established a long tradition of receiving this honour, doing so in 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1982 according to a 1986 source. 2023 [18] Shortly after this, the role of the college changed again with the establishment of the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1986. [8] In 1927 the King's Colour was presented to the Corps of Staff Cadets by His Royal Highness, The Duke of York. The course is designed to test the cadets physically and mentally and graduation is by no means guaranteed. "Especially in Australia - the old larrikinism, the trait of initiative," he said. "But if we're all training together, it means that we don't have to worry about each other, and there's not going to be many misunderstandings.". The Royal Military College, Duntroon, also known simply as Duntroon, is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. 10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day). Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains today and into the future. Let's treat everyone with respect. [31] Following this expansion, however, the size of the Corps dropped and in 1958 the number of cadets had fallen to 200 and as a result Romani Company was disbanded. He had entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, on 22 June 1911 as part of the first intake of cadets. Pratt was a British officer serving on exchange with the Australian Army. This list may not reflect recent changes . RMC was created to oversee the initial military training of all officers in the Australian Army. As one of the first institutions to be established in Canberra, RMC has been integral to the life of the ACT. The government instructed then Colonel William Throsby Bridges to visit and report on the military colleges in England, Canada and the United States. Like the graduates of a century ago, today's soon-to-be officers leave Duntroon unaware of exactly what the future will hold for them, but prepared for whatever comes their way. Under Officer Iain Best has university degrees in business and military history and said Duntroon motivated him to take his Army career to the next level. Since 1911, RMC-D has drawn the highest calibre of Australian Army leaders to oversee the training of future officers. While the nature of warfare has changed greatly in the intervening century, the ethos of the modern Australian Army has its roots in those World War I soldiers. It is not surprising then that the 2014 graduates have drawn inspiration from their predecessors 100 years ago. They were the young officers who led their men "over the top". The notable Alumni of the Royal Military College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst are very numerous. They graduated ahead of schedule - even before taking their final exams - so they could be rushed off to the Great War in Europe. The Sovereign's Company is the senior company and is always on the right of the line. Of these 122, three went on to have quite distinguished careers, with one rising to the rank of brigadier in the Australian Army, another to brigadier in the New Zealand Army and a third, R.C. Given the Royal title bestowed on the College, the base colour of the Regimental Colour is dark blue (for units without a Royal title, the base colour is dark green). On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the four-year course was reduced to two years.