B.A.A.K. ACADKMY
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ACADEMY
1. T h e R.A.A.F. Academy has evolved from (he R.A.A.F. College which was established in 1948 as a tertiary training centre to provide a professional education for permanent officers of the Air Force.
2. T h e curriculum extended over four years and included subjects drawn from the p u r e sciences, humanities, a n d those applied sciences relevant to aeronautics.
Military studies and a full flying training course were part of the syllabus. T h e CoUege graduated 12 courses of cadets w h o are now serving in various branches of the service.
3. In 1956 the R.A.A.F. set up a committee, under t h e chairmanship of Air Vice Marshal I. D . McLachlan, C.B.E., D . F . C , composed nf R.A.A.F. and Univer- sity representatives, to examine the College syUabus of training. T h e committee was impressed with t h e need for higher educational preparation for t h e Officer Corps, and recommended a course leading to a university degree. Various means of insti- tuting a degree course at the College were being considered when Professor Sir LesUe Martin, then Professor of Physics of the University of Melbourne, suggested the best solution was to adopt a University of Melbourne Bachelor of Science course a n d to qualify for that University's degree. Negotiations between t h e R.A.A.F. and the University of Melboume reached an agreement by which the R.A.A.F. College was reconstituted as the R.A.A.F, Academy for the purpose of awarding t h e degree of Bachelor of Science ( M e l b o u r n e ) . A later revision of t h e University statute permits t h e Academy to present students for higher degrees in Science and die degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
4. Studies for t h e degree of Bachelor of Science occupy t h e bulk of t h e time in t h e first three years of the course. The fourth year is devoted to further studies in humanities, aeronautical science and military art.
5. T h e R.A.A.F. Academy is directed by a senior serving officer as Com- mandant. T h e miUtary programme, sporting activities a n d domestic affairs of t h e Academy are managed b y the Assistant Commandant. T h e university element of the syllabus is controlled by a Dean of University Studies who is responsible to the Faculty of Science of t h e University of Melbourne. T h e Dean and most of d i e staff engaged in t h e science degree studies hold appointments to t h e University of Melboume (R.A.A.F. A c a d e m y ) . T h e W a r d e n of d i e Academy is responsible for d i e general academic administration of t h e Academy, t h e academic subjects outside t h e science degree, and for t h e general balance of t h e syllabus. Academy staff are actively engaged in fundamental research using facilities largely provided b y d i e Air Force.
6. T h e directing staff of t h e Academy is:
C o m m a n d a n t — A m COMMODORE E . W . TONKIN, O B E Assistant C o m m a n d a n t — G R O U P C A P T A I N J. S. W I L S O N , A F C W a r d e n — W . D . HARDY, OBK MA BSc B E d AAIP MACE
Dean of University Studies a n d Professor of Physics—PROFESSOR V. D . H O P P E R , DSc FAInstP FInstP
Professor of Mathematics—PROFESSOR M. N . BPJTAHLEY, BE W.Aust. BSc Syd.
MA Cantai). P h D A d d . MSc
7. Entry to t h e R.A.A.F. Academy is b y means of cadetships which are awarded annually, o n a competitive hasis, to students throughout Australia, T h e qualifications required for selection are set out in a brochure on t h e R.A.A.F.
Academy, available from t h e local Recruiting Centre. T h e y include t h e possession of a matriculation qualification prior to entry to die Academy, and the limitation on age that t h e a p p h c a n t must not have reached his 20th birthday by 31 March of the year of entry.
8. T h e R.A.A.F. bears all t h e costs of t h e training, including accommodation and clothing. Cadets also receive pay and aUowances throughout die course.
873
