Army Foundation College
Encyclopedia
The Army Foundation College in Harrogate
(abbreviated AFC(H)) trains future soldiers from the infantry, armoured corps, artillery and elements of the Royal Logistic Corps
(RLC). School-leavers aged between 16 and 17 years and five months of age are eligible to join. The AFC(H) offers young men and women the opportunity to learn as they earn experience in battle. Through military training and vocational education, soldiers under training gain the soldiering skills needed for the British Army
.
Situated in Uniacke Barracks, which is located in Harrogate
, North Yorkshire
, AFC(H) opened in 1998. The barracks
was notably and continually used for trainee junior soldiers from 1947 until August 1996 as a part of the Army Apprentices School, Harrogate
, which was later renamed to the Army Apprentices College, Harrogate
.
Training for a soldier includes:
On top of the basic Phase 1 course, which lasts for 20 weeks, junior soldiers undertake an extra 22 weeks at AFC(H); during these extra weeks, junior soldiers take classes that include vocational education, military studies, and leadership and initiative training, all of which are taken before any further trade training at the appropriate arms and service-specific Phase 2 training school.
The AFC(H) tries to gain all soldiers under training additional qualifications and tutors are employed to aid course planning. Additional learning support is available for soldiers with specific learning difficulties or basic skills
deficiencies.
Soldiers may have an apprenticeship for IT Users, which includes a Level 2 National Vocational Qualification
(NVQ2). There is also the opportunity to gain modules of the European Computer Driving Licence
(ECDL).
Application of Number and Communication Skills is a Maths and English class used in an Army career. Soldiers with no previous qualifications will reach Level 1 or Level 2 (GCSE standard). Those with a GCSE or equivalent pass already will work towards Level 3.
Soldiers capbadged to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
and Royal Engineers
will do an additional technical course that includes another NVQ2 in Performing Engineering Operations (PEO2), involving work in the workshops.
Military studies (MS) instructor officers from the Educational and Training Services Branch
teach soldiers about the military. The subjects taught include:
In addition to the classroom education, all Junior Soldiers visit Normandy
, France on a 'Realities of War' tour to see the core values in the actions of those that fought in the Invasion of Normandy. The officers and NCOs from Harrogate, many of them veterans of operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, compare their own experiences to those of the soldiers who fought during the D-Day campaign.
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Leadership and initiative training (L&IT) aims to take soldiers to develop them as team leaders and team members. This development takes place over five one-week packages spread over the year so that soldiers have a chance to consolidate and build on areas before returning.
The packages are:
and represent what most capbadges have to offer. The PS represent their parent unit whilst serving at AFC(H).
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
(abbreviated AFC(H)) trains future soldiers from the infantry, armoured corps, artillery and elements of the Royal Logistic Corps
Royal Logistic Corps
The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
(RLC). School-leavers aged between 16 and 17 years and five months of age are eligible to join. The AFC(H) offers young men and women the opportunity to learn as they earn experience in battle. Through military training and vocational education, soldiers under training gain the soldiering skills needed for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Situated in Uniacke Barracks, which is located in Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, AFC(H) opened in 1998. The barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
was notably and continually used for trainee junior soldiers from 1947 until August 1996 as a part of the Army Apprentices School, Harrogate
Army Apprentices School, Harrogate
The Army Apprentices School, Harrogate , established in 1947, was sited either side of Penny Pot Lane, outside Harrogate using Uniacke and Hildebrande Barracks...
, which was later renamed to the Army Apprentices College, Harrogate
Army Apprentices School, Harrogate
The Army Apprentices School, Harrogate , established in 1947, was sited either side of Penny Pot Lane, outside Harrogate using Uniacke and Hildebrande Barracks...
.
Mission
The mission of the AFC(H) is to train and educate junior soldiers in order to- meet the output standards required by Common Military Syllabus (H)
- provide the necessary inflow to Phase 2
- inculcate and develop the habit of soldiering
- develop recognisable leadership potential
Training
All soldiers under training must complete Phase 1 training before moving on to a Phase 2 (special to arms) training establishment.Training for a soldier includes:
- skill at arms – learning to use the Army's infantry weapon, the SA80SA80The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
A2 - fieldcraft – learning to live, eat and survive in the field
- chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defence – learning to survive and fight in a contaminated environment
- first aid – learning to treat casualties in a battlefield situation
- physical fitness – a structured programme to improve physical fitness with sessions in the gym as well as swimming, sports and other outdoor activities.
- drill
On top of the basic Phase 1 course, which lasts for 20 weeks, junior soldiers undertake an extra 22 weeks at AFC(H); during these extra weeks, junior soldiers take classes that include vocational education, military studies, and leadership and initiative training, all of which are taken before any further trade training at the appropriate arms and service-specific Phase 2 training school.
Vocational education
Treated as adult learners, all soldiers under training at AFC(H) undertake vocational education (VE), designed to help young soldiers train for their future jobs within whichever cap badge they have chosen. The VE programme has proven to aid promotion for soldiers trained at AFC(H). Wherever possible, learning materials will involve real military documents, exercises and working situations.The AFC(H) tries to gain all soldiers under training additional qualifications and tutors are employed to aid course planning. Additional learning support is available for soldiers with specific learning difficulties or basic skills
Basic skills
Basic skills can be compared to higher order thinking skills. Facts and methods are highly valued under the back-to-basics approach to education....
deficiencies.
Soldiers may have an apprenticeship for IT Users, which includes a Level 2 National Vocational Qualification
National Vocational Qualification
National Vocational Qualifications are work based awards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are achieved through assessment and training. In Scotland they are known as Scottish Vocational Qualification ....
(NVQ2). There is also the opportunity to gain modules of the European Computer Driving Licence
European Computer Driving Licence
The European Computer Driving Licence , also known as International Computer Driving Licence , is a computer literacy certification programme provided by ECDL Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation....
(ECDL).
Application of Number and Communication Skills is a Maths and English class used in an Army career. Soldiers with no previous qualifications will reach Level 1 or Level 2 (GCSE standard). Those with a GCSE or equivalent pass already will work towards Level 3.
Soldiers capbadged to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
and Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
will do an additional technical course that includes another NVQ2 in Performing Engineering Operations (PEO2), involving work in the workshops.
Military Studies
Educational and Training Services Branch
The Educational and Training Services form part of the Adjutant General's Corps and have done since 1992 when this Corps of the British Army was formed...
teach soldiers about the military. The subjects taught include:
- the role of the British army
- governmentGovernmentGovernment refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and the armed forcesArmed forcesThe armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
– the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's system of government and its relationship with the armed forces - army and the media
- terrorismTerrorismTerrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
– types of terrorism and tactics used by both sides - modern conflicts – including the AfghanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
and Iraq wars
In addition to the classroom education, all Junior Soldiers visit Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France on a 'Realities of War' tour to see the core values in the actions of those that fought in the Invasion of Normandy. The officers and NCOs from Harrogate, many of them veterans of operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, compare their own experiences to those of the soldiers who fought during the D-Day campaign.
Leadership and initiative training
The packages are:
- Package 1 and 3 – introduction to hillwalking, caving, kayaking/canoeing and rock climbing
- Package 2 – introduction to planning, command tasks, ex sangin resupply, high ropes and final race
- Package 4 - navigation, ex team challenge, march and shoot, ex fast track and final race
- Package 5 – Duke of Edinburgh expedition, ex junior long reach and final challenge
Permanent staff
Permanent staff (PS) are mostly from the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and represent what most capbadges have to offer. The PS represent their parent unit whilst serving at AFC(H).
Command development
Whilst "character development" is what the AFC seeks to achieve with soldiers under training, "command development" is the term used for the training that members of permanent staff must undertake. Training includes mandatory professional development, providing the motivational tools to help leaders/instructors gain the best from soldiers under training, and teaching and coaching qualifications.See also
- Association of Harrogate ApprenticesAssociation of Harrogate Apprentices-Introduction:The Association of Harrogate Apprentices, whose spiritual home is at Harrogate in England, exists to re-unite people in any way associated with the Army Apprentices School, Harrogate which was renamed the Army Apprentices College, Harrogate in 1965...
– includes a general history of Uniacke Barracks - Selection and Training in the British ArmySelection and Training in the British ArmySelection and training in the British Army is the process by which candidates for service are identified, inducted and brought onto the trained strength...