Issue 11/03 – 19 November 2003
RMC launches new generation of courses for NCMs
The Royal Military College of Canada's first-ever
major academic program designed exclusively for non-commissioned
members not pursuing an officer career path is now up and running.
The Army Technical Warrant Officers' Program
(ATWOP), launched August 27, is a result of a Land Force Doctrine
and Training System initiative and several years of co-operation
and development with the Army. The one-year course is designed to
develop the technical skills of Army warrant officers from a variety
of occupations in order to meet the hi-tech challenges of the modern
security environment, and to bring NCMs more effectively into the
military decision-making process.
The establishment of the ATWOP is part of a CF-wide
effort to increase professional development opportunities for all
ranks, says Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) commander Rear Admiral
David Morse, who oversees CF-wide common education and professional
development.
“As the modern battlefield demands more from
our NCMs,” RAdm Morse says, “they must be given learning
opportunities to meet the challenge. Courses such as the ATWOP,
and those offered at the newly established NCM Professional Development
Centre in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, are designed to do just that.”
The core curriculum of the ATWOP shares many common
elements with the one-year officers' courses run through RMC's
Department of Applied Military Science. The program is adopting
the NCM Corps 2020 professional development
model by establishing common content with one of the officers'
courses, the Land Forces Technical Support Program (LFTSP), says
course developer Major Roger Sashaw.
“In next August's ATWOP intake, the warrant
officers will take their pre-course package, introductory studies,
and core applied technology courses with the officers,” Maj
Sashaw says. “It's a common-sense approach that will
allow us to put the theory of NCM Corps 2020
into action and save money in the process.”
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