Project expedites training for captains

To help alleviate the backlog of SERCAT 5 and 7 Army captains promoted with conditions waiting to complete the Foundation Captain’s Course (formerly the All Corps Captain’s Course), Land Combat College has introduced an initiative called Project Pathfinder.

Pathfinder will increase the throughput of eligible captains via one of three pathways that will range from helping units export the Foundation Captain’s Course locally to, in applicable cases, recognising the experience of some captains in order to award the competency. 

The project is aimed at captains promoted with conditions who have served at least 12 months as a captain; possess at least one performance appraisal report as a captain; have evidence of reporting on a commissioned officer subordinate; and have evidence of having attempted to nominate for the Foundation Captain’s Course previously.

Pathway one: LCC FCC recognition kit

This pathway is similar to the extant LCC Recognition Process and involves a candidate who feels confident they can provide sufficient evidence to address all Foundation Captain’s Course learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Those personnel are encouraged to use the LCC FCC Recognition Kit, add their evidence and submit it to the LCC training recognition team.

Pathway two: LCC FCC Unit Exported Training – assessment-only option

Under pathway two, a candidate’s unit exports the FCC and conducts training assessment scenarios with a certifying authority signing the record of attainment.

Personnel who feel confident but lack the performance evidence to attempt pathway one are encouraged into pathway two. By making use of LCC’s extant exported training business process, units can seek an exported training session of the FCC and run an ‘assessment-only’ pathway.

Pathway three: LCC FCC unit exported training – standard option

Finally, where neither the unit nor the individual are confident in the current performance and ability to successfully complete the assessment scenarios, units are encouraged into pathway three where the unit exports the course and conducts the training in-house.

Project Pathfinder is a concerted effort to encourage units to seek alternative pathways to assign FCC competencies to eligible Army captains through mostly existing avenues and under the guidance of LCC.

There will always be value in attending milestone career courses such as FCC in person, as embracing Army traditions, building Army community and strengthening one’s cohort are aspects of residential learning that cannot be exported.

Neither, however, should a capable officer be limited in training, posting or promotion opportunities because of physical or logistical limitations to training systems.

Army training has been and shall always need to be flexible in order to meet the training needs of a modern force in a constant state of evolution.

Project Pathfinder provides a flexible and timely means of alleviating the growing backlog of Army captains promoted with conditions while training institutions and methods adapt.

For more information, contact Land Combat College Operations.