Royal Military Academy Sandhurst: Difference between revisions

In 1799, a [[Royal Military College, High Wycombe|school for staff officers]] was established at [[High Wycombe]], and in 1801 this became the Senior Department of the newly established [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst|Royal Military College]] (RMC),<ref name=sp0412>{{cite book | title=Sovereign's Parade Programme | publisher=RMA Sandhurst | date= April 2012 }} </ref> the brainchild of [[John Le Marchant (British Army cavalry officer)|Colonel John Le Marchant]].<ref>[https://da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/jscsc-library/artwork/major-general-john-gaspard-le-marchant-1766-1812 Major-General John Gaspard Le Marchant (1766–1812)] Defence Academy</ref> He opened the Junior Department of the College at a [[Remnantz|large house]] in West Street in [[Great Marlow]]<ref>[http://www.marlowsociety.org.uk/town-tour.html Marlow Tour] Marlow Society</ref> in 1802<ref name="RMAS History">{{cite web | author= | title=RMAS: The story of Sandhurst|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/training/17061.aspx | accessdate=6 July 2009}}</ref> to train "Gentleman Cadets" for the infantry and cavalry regiments of the British Army and of the [[Presidency armies]] of [[British India]].<ref name=sp0412 /> Coincidentally, 1802 was also the year of foundation of [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr|Saint-Cyr]] in France<ref name="SaintCyr">{{cite web | author= | title=Ecoles Des Saint-Cyr (in French)|url=http://www.st-cyr.terre.defense.gouv.fr/index.php/Presentation/Historique | accessdate=23 March 2015}}</ref> and of [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite book |last =Ambrose |first =Stephen |authorlink = Stephen Ambrose | title =Duty, Honor, Country. A History of West Point |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |location =Baltimore |year = 1966|isbn =0-8018-6293-0}}, p.22</ref> In 1812 the Junior Department of the Royal Military College moved from Great Marlow into buildings designed by [[James Wyatt]] at Sandhurst.<ref>[http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/sandhurst.html Sandhurst – Royal Berkshire History]</ref> A few years later, the Junior Department was joined at Sandhurst from High Wycombe by the Senior Department, which in 1858 became a separate institution, the [[Staff College, Camberley|Staff College]].<ref name=sp0412 />

On the outbreak of the Second World War, Sandhurst became the home of 161 Infantry Officer Cadet Training Unit (RMC), which moved to Mons Barracks, Aldershot in 1942; for the rest of the war Sandhurst was used as a Royal Armoured Corps Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU).<ref>[http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/training/17061.aspx Training] Army</ref>

Sandhurst develops leadership in cadets by expanding their character, intellect and professional competences to a level demanded of an Army Officer on first appointment through military training and education.<ref name=course>[http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/training/17070.aspx Commissioning Course] Royal Military Academy Sandhurst {{dead link|date=October 2017}}</ref> The course is accredited by various academic and professional institutions.<ref name=course/> The Commissioning Course lasts 44 weeks and must be successfully completed by all British regular army officers (with some exceptions) before they receive their commission. It is usually followed by further training courses specific to the [[Regiment]] or [[Corps]] in which the officer will serve.

There are two shorter commissioning courses. One is for professionally qualified officers (e.g., [[Physician|doctors]], [[dentist]]s, [[nurse]]s, [[lawyer]]s, [[pharmacist]]s, [[veterinary surgeon]]s and [[chaplain]]s).<ref>[http://www.army.mod.uk/join/26972.aspx# PQO Course] at army.mod.uk, accessed 1 March 2014</ref> The second short course is the [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] (AR) Commissioning Course (ARCC), which lasts eight weeks. The ARCC consists of four training modules; the first two, Modules A and B, can be completed under the supervision of RMAS with University Officer Training Corps over a number of weekends, or at RMAS where each module lasts two weeks. The final two modules, modules C and D, of the Officers' training and assessment must be conducted at Sandhurst. This training can all be completed in an eight-week period at RMAS, or over a number of years. Upon completion, Officer Cadets become [[Second Lieutenant]]s in the AR or [[Officer Training Corps]] (OTC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/12085.aspx|title=Choosing a Commission|quote=He is placed on the strength of a AR Unit but completes Modules 1–3 of the AR Commissioning Course (ARCC) with the UOTC and Module 4 at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Commission is confirmed by completing Module 5, a Special to Arms Course, a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 2 years commissioned service.}}</ref> Each year approximately 140 candidates undertake each of these two short courses.<ref name=sp0412 /> Both courses are accommodated and primarily conducted at Victory College, RMAS.

RMAS has an academic faculty staffed by civilian researchers with expertise in Communication and Applied Behavioural Science, Defence and International Affairs, and War Studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://army.mod.uk/training_education/training/17063.aspx|title=RMAS site}}</ref>