RAF personnel reach new heights with better opportunities for professional development

Personnel in the Royal Air Force are getting official recognition for their management and leadership capabilities due to a new partnership with the Chartered Management Institute. The alliance, which guarantees fast-track membership of the Institute to all RAF personnel, means individuals have access to professional development and qualifications, as well as management information and advice to hone their new expertise.

The partnership will allow RAF personnel to complete nationally recognised qualifications in management and leadership. The Diploma in Management, Executive Diploma in Management and Executive Diploma in Strategic Management take between six months and a year to complete. The courses cover core skills in teamwork, communication, resource management, how to maximise team performance and strategic team management, all of which are transferable to other professions. The programmes are designed to help individuals in their current and future roles, even if they choose to leave the RAF for a civilian occupation.

The Institute is the only chartered professional body for managers and leaders and its knowledge bank covers over 200 management issues. RAF personnel who use the scheme will have access to its resources including up-to-date research and a network of other managers in many different fields. They can also send specific questions to the Instituteís Management Information Centre on a range of issues from how to manage change effectively, interview techniques or how to give a good appraisal.

Air Marshall SGG Dalton (CB BSc FRAeS MCMI) says: As part of its strategy for investing in people, the RAF is committed to lifelong learning and the acquisition of transportable skills. Key to this is the recognition of skill sets developed through military experience and training and translating this into qualifications that civilian employers understand and respect.

ìI believe that the partnership between the RAF and the Chartered Management Institute is a huge step forward in achieving readily recognizable transportable skills.

Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs for the Institute, believes the agreement shows the RAFís support of its staff: ìAt a time when organisations are struggling to find the best talent, the RAFís commitment to up-skilling its staff is commendable. Organisations across all sectors should realise that individuals want to progress and will look elsewhere if development opportunities are not available.î

As part of the scheme, the Instituteís membership levels have been mapped with the RAFís internal ranking structure and promotion courses so individuals can join at a level which matches their experience. Flying officers, pilot officers, first tour flight sergeants and sergeants qualify for Associate status and ranks above flight lieutenant can become full Members. To become a Fellow of the Institute, individuals need to have achieved wing commander or group captain status and above.