ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ACADEMY
1. T h e R.A.A.F. Academy has evolved from t h e R.A.A.F. College which was estabUshed in 1948 as a tertiary training centre to provide a professional education for permanent officers of t h e Air Force.
2. T h e curriculum extended over four years and included subjects drawn from the pure sciences, humanities, and those applied sciences relevant to aeronautics.
Military studies and a full flying training course were part of the syllabus. T h e College graduated 12 courses of cadets who are now serving in various branches of t h e service.
3. In 1956 the R.A.A.F. set u p a committee, under the chairmanship of Air Vice Marshal I. D . McLachlan, C.B.E., D . F . C , composed of R.A.A.F. and Univer- sity representatives, to examine t h e College syllabus of training. T h e committee was impressed with the 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 t h e College were being considered when Professor Sir Leslie Martin, then Professor of Physics of tho University of Melbourne, suggested the best solution was to adopt a University of Melboume Bachelor of Science course and to qualify for that University's degree. Negotiations between the R.A.A.F. a n d the University of Melbourne reached an agreement by which the R.A.A.F. College was reconstituted as t h e R.A.A.F. Academy for the purpose of awarding the degree of Bachelor of Science ( M e l b o u m e ) . A later revision of the University statute permits t h e Academy to present students for higher degrees in Science and t h e degree of Doctor of Philosophy. A buUding scheme is in progress to provide new teaching and research facilities.
4. Studies for t h e degree of Bachelor of Science occupy the bulk of the 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 military programme, sporting activities and domestic affairs of t h e Academy are managed by the Assistant Commandant. T h e university element of t h e syllabus is controlled b y a Dean of University Studies who is responsible to the Faculty of Science of the University of Melboume. T h e Dean and most of t h e staff engaged in t h e science degree studies hold appointments to the University of Melbourne (R.A.A.F. Academy). The Warden of t h e Academy is responsible for t h e general academic administration of t h e Academy, t h e academic subjects outside the science degree, and for t h e general balance of the syllabus. Academy staff are actively engaged in fundamental research using facilities largely provided by t h e Air Force.
6. T h e directing staff of the Academy is:
Commandant—Am COMMODORE C. F . READ, C.B.E., D . F . C , A . F . C Assistant C o m m a n d a n t — G R O U P C A P T A I N J. M. SUTHERLAND
W a r d e n — M R . W . D . HARDY, O.B.E., M.A., B . S c , B.Ed., A.Inst.P., M.A.C.E.
D e a n of Universtty Studies—PBOFESSOR V. D . H O P P E R , D . S C , F.A.Inst.P.
F.Inst.P.
Professor of Mathematics—PBOFESSOR N. M. BREABLEY, B.E. (W.A ) B Sc ( S y d . ) , M.A. ( C a n t a b . ) , Ph.D. (Adel.)
7. Entry to the R.A.A.F. Academy is by means of cadetships which are awarded annually, on a competitive basis, 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, avaUable from the local Recmiting Centre. They include the possession of a matriculation qualification prior to entry to t h e Academy, and t h e limitation on age that t h e applicant 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 the training, including accommodation and clothing. Cadets also receive pay and allowances throughout the course.
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