Last Updated: 25 October, 2014

1.0     Introduction

All Royal Signals personnel selected for promotion to Corporal attend the 5-week Junior Command and Leadership Course (JCLC), located in Blandford, as part of the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Part 1 element of the Command, Leadership and Management (JNCO CLM) programme.

The JCLC is delivered by the Junior Command Training Team (JCTT), led by a Staff Sergeant (Instructor) (SSI). The JCTT is part of 4 (Military Training) Squadron which is commanded by a Major (OF-3).

During attendance on this course students are also assessed for the Royal Signals Instructor Selection Board.

2.0     Background

The first Royal Signals Instructor Selection Board took place in Blandford in early October 2006 (Shenow, 2007). Nearly 40 potential instructors attended four days of tasks to assess their suitability as instructors at the Army Training Regiments, Army Foundation College Harrogate and the Royal School of Signals. The week consisted of command tasks, interviews, teaching practices, problem solving and presentations.

3.0     Aim

The Royal Signals Instructors Selection Board’s aim is (Creighton, 2014, p.18):

“To assess a candidate’s aptitude, character and suitability to be employed in a Royal Signals Instructor post primarily in a Phase 1 or Phase 2 Training Establishment but also in Phase 3 Training Posts.”

4.0     Selection Process

On Day One of the JCLC all students must undertake the Annual Fitness Test (AFT). Successful completion of the AFT will see students placed within a Section which is led by a Sergeant (OR-6) from JCTT.

Each section is also accompanied by an external directing staff (DS) member, who is either a Warrant Officer (OR-8 or OR-9) or Captain (OF-2). This enables each candidate to be assessed by two independent people, with the intent of giving a more balanced and objective picture of instructional ability.

Candidates are observed and assessed on a variety of activities throughout the course, which include:

• Battle PT sessions;
• Defence Instructional Techniques (DIT) theory and practical lessons;
• Discussion groups;
• Written essays;
• Individual interviews; and
• Basic Close Combat Skills.

5.0     What Attributes Are DS Looking For?

The attributes that are assessed during the course include:

• Articulation;
• Confidence;
• Empathy;
• Enthusiasm;
• Mental agility;
• Physical attributes;
• Objectivity; and
• Self criticism.

The Royal Corps of Signals expects all of its Instructors at training establishments to display these attributes to the highest level.

6.0     Selection Board

At the end of the course a Selection Board is convened and usually includes the following personnel:

• Commanding Officer 11 (RSS) Signal Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel, OF-4);
• Officer Commanding 4 (Military Training) Squadron (Major, OF-3);
• Regimental Career Management Officer (RCMO), usually a Late Entry (LE) Captain (OF-2);
• Staff Officer Two (SO2) Soldiers, a Major (OF-3);
• A representative from Army Training Regiment’s Pirbright and Winchester;
• The SSI JCTT; and
• The Section DS.

The Selection Board will have access to a candidate’s personal file and reports from the various activities they have been assessed on throughout the course. With this evidence, the Selection Board will make a recommendation on the individual’s suitability for employment in a training environment. A report is raised and then forwarded to the Army Personnel Centre, Glasgow, in which recommendations on further training and development are made.

7.0     Summary

The Royal Signals Instructor Selection Board has been deemed the most suitable to assess potential instructors over a short, but intense, period of time.

The ultimate goal of this process is to identify and assign the most suitable NCOs to training establishments as Instructors who espouse the values and standards of the British Army.

8.0     References

Creighton, A. (2014) Royal Signals Instructors Selection Board. The Wire: The Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals. April 2014, pp.18.

Shenow, N.R.D. (2007) SOINC’S PD19  – Selection for Employment in Training Organisations. The Wire: The Journal of the Royal Corps of Signals. August 2007, pp.267.