Royal Naval College Greenwich Centenary 1873 - 1973
The Present Task
The courses conducted at Greenwich
or in which staff of the College are involved are as follows:-
Senior Officers' War Course
The Royal Naval War College has,
since the mid-1960s developed into a wholly Joint Service Higher Defence
College. The Director is a senior Captain, Royal Navy and there is a Deputy
Director from each of the three Services. Students are of Captain's rank or
equivalent, with the occasional one-star member; they are drawn from the three
Services, the Diplomatic Service and the Civil and Scientific Services: all are
British nationals. The SOWC lasts 21 working weeks and studies the political
and economic background to Defence, NATO and the three Services in depth, with
visits away from Greenwich to centres and units accordingly. In the final part
of the Course, the structure and management of Defence institutions are
examined, along with other subjects of national importance. Distinguished
lecturers are available and work is done in syndicates, though students do
produce an individual paper on some set or chosen subject. A 3-day seminar on
current affairs is held at one of the Universities, thus increasing the
awareness in students of the academic world and its contribution to national
life. The Senior Officers' War Course is thus a shorter (national) alternative
to the (international) Royal College of Defence Studies Course and plays a
vital part in preparing senior officers for Defence posts at higher level.
Staff Course
A 6-months course designed for
Lieutenant-Commanders with a small number of students from the WRNS, the other
Services, Commonwealth navies and the Civil Service. Foreign navies also send
students and since 1962 representatives have come from 23 countries. The
Director is a Captain RN and the Directing Staff includes officers from
Commonwealth navies and the other two Services. The aim of this intensive
course is to prepare selected officers for command at sea and for senior staff
appointments. The subjects studied include world affairs, Britain's foreign and
defence policies, the three Services, leadership, management and human
relations.
Work is based on lectures given by distinguished speakers,
both Service and Civilian, on syndicate discussion and on individual study.
High standards are demanded and the psc (passed Staff Course) qualification,
which serves as a passport to the National Defence College or the Royal College
of Defence Studies, is only awarded to students whose performance achieves
them.
The Staff Course, which had been increased in length to 12 weeks
in 1945, was further increased to six months in 1948 and to one year in 1963
which brought it into line with Army and RAF Staff Courses. With this change it
was laid down that a minimum of 20% of the Course programme should be devoted
to studies of joint service matters and since 1963 tri-service work and
combined studies with the other Staff Colleges have become a regular feature of
the RN Staff Course. In 1973 the Course was reduced to months primarily in
order to increase the number of staff-trained officers in the Navy. At present
about 60 students join each course.
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh took the
course as a Lieutenant in 1948.
Lieutenants' Greenwich Course
The LGC is a 3-months course designed to train Naval and Royal Marine
Lieutenants in Staff Duties up to the level of Frigate Squadron Staff Officer.
It aims also to broaden the student's outlook by study of the world's Armed
Forces, examination of the political and economic background to defence
problems, and consideration of the fields of Management and Human Relations
especially as these affect the Services. Students come also from the Royal
Fleet Auxiliary and the Civil Service and, occasionally, from the WRNS and
University Defence Study Departments. Its Director is the Captain of the
College and its Directing Staff includes officers of all branches and of the
other Services. About 35 students attend each course.
Development in
thinking and self expression are, as in all courses, given particular stress.
Study of the Arts is encouraged and time given for the pursuit of a self-chosen
project and for various visits. The LGC has gained a reputation for good and
lively work, and is a popular and valued course - as is shown by the regular
visits of the First and Second. Sea Lords and other senior naval officers. One
object is to remind young officers who have, of necessity, been, for the last
few years, either at sea or on specialist tasks, of the wider factors affecting
their profession. It has the added advantage of bringing together officers of
all branches to meet and share their problems and experiences - though
unfortunately the heavy demands of the Fleet, especially on Engineers, does not
yet allow 100% attendance. Nevertheless, over 1,000 officers have so far
successfully completed this course. A few Merchant Navy officers are welcome
attenders for a week each course, and a fortnight's Royal Naval Reserve Staff
Acquaint Course is also held.
Special Duties Officers' Greenwich
Course
The SDOGC is a 6-weeks course under the Directorship of the
Captain of the College which aims to ease the transition from rating specialist
and give newly promoted officers the opportunity to find their feet and adapt
to a new environment. Students (about 24 each course) are taught Divisional
Officers' duties (discipline, conditions of service, welfare, service
etiquette) and their knowledge of the Navy and Defence, the Contemporary World
and the Arts is widened. Self expression and hard thinking are encouraged in
group and individual tutorials and supporting outside visits are arranged.
Above all, life in a large ward room, particularly in historic Greenwich,
teaches much. More than 2,000 officers have completed this most worthwhile
course including many from Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Malaysia
and Trinidad. One fifth of the Navy's officers are on the Special Duties list.
|