Australian Army Cadets - Promotion Courses

Promotion Courses

Whilst policy requires a cadet to complete a promotion course to attain the rank of CDTCPL, this policy is often interpreted flexibly, with some cadets being promoted up to and including the rank of CDTSSGT without having done the course, as promotions of CDT SSGT or below are decided at the individual unit OC's discretion. Promotion above CDTSSGT needs to be approved by the Regional Headquarters. Promotions courses are run by each Region for their own cadets and are generally planned by the Regional Headquarters. Permission may also be extended to Battalion Headquarters (in large regions) and individual ACU's (usually school based) to run courses, as needed, independently to that of the Regional run courses, where a Battalion/Unit will supply staff to run the course.

To be qualified to obtain the rank of Cadet Lance Corporal or Cadet Corporal, a cadet must be deemed competent on the AAC Junior Leaders' Course (JLC, previously known as the Junior Non-commissioned Officers Course, JNCO Course). To be qualified for the rank of Cadet Sergeant a cadet must then pass the AAC Senior Leaders' Course Module 1 (SLC Mod 1). This was previously known Senior Non-Commissioned Officer's Course (SNCO Course), and is often today shortened to SLC. For any further promotion, a cadet must complete AAC Senior Leaders' Course - Module 2 (SLC Mod 2), which is also known as the Cadet Under Officers' and Cadet Warrant Officers' Course (CUO/CDTWO Course). To obtain a promotion above the of CDTWO2 and higher, a cadet must be over the age of 16, however, in the past, this has not been strictly adhered to.

Senior cadets (Usually above the rank of CDTSGT) can apply to be Assistant Directing Staff (ADS) on Promotion Courses who instruct groups of cadets on courses, depending on their rank, with NCO's below the rank of CDTSGT occasionally assisting as General Duties Staff (GDS). The content of these courses is outlined by National Headquarters (HQ AAC) in the AAC's Training Management Packages (TMP), with a common list of instruction and assessment applicable to each course. The courses are held in state as follows:

• In New South Wales, Promotion Courses have been held in such locations as Holsworthy Barracks, south of Sydney, HMAS Albatross, in Nowra, HMAS Harman in Canberra, and Centre Ridge at the Singleton Army Training Area. In April 2006, the SLC Mod 2 course was held for the first time at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra. Recent promotions courses have been run at Singleton Army Training Area.

• In North Queensland, all promotions courses are combined into a single eight-day session held in December at Abergowrie College, near Ingham. However, they are now being held at Lavarack Barracks Townsville.

• In South Queensland, promotion courses are held at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera in Brisbane.

• In South Australia, promotion courses are held at Hampstead Barracks in Adelaide.

• In Victoria, the promotion courses are usually held at the old National Service Lines in Puckapunyal. However, between 2004 and 2006, asbestos removal was taking place at that site. Instead, they have been held at other locations, such as RAAF Williams (Laverton and Point Cook sites) and Simpson Barracks. From 2006 to 2009 CUO/WO and SLC were held annually at the end of the year, as opposed to twice yearly before then. Since 2009 CUO/WOs and SLC have been held during mid-year holidays, instead of end of year. JLC is held bi-annually in the July and December school holidays. A second course was developed to run alongside the Victorian JLC in December at Puckapunyal; named the Cadet Leadership Development Course (CLDC) which was designed to train cadets who may have missed out on attending the so that they will be at the required skill level for the next set of courses. CLDC was renamed Cadet Development Course (CDC) in 2010. The course was conducted in VIC AAC BDE up until July 2012.

• In Western Australia, the promotion courses are held at Leeuwin Barracks and Bindoon Training Area.

• In Tasmania, the promotions courses are held at the Tasmanian Police Academy or Anglesea Barracks.

• In the Northern Territory, the promotion courses are held at Larrakeyah Barracks. However, the Northern Territory only has the resources to run Junior and Senior Leaders' courses. Cadets are typically sent to Western Australia to complete their CUO or WO courses. These courses are held at Leeuwin Barracks and Bindoon Training Area.