Air Force Training Group was established as Training Command at Albert Park, Victoria, on 1 September 1953. It was formed from Southern Area Command, which was the hub of RAAF training services at the time. Training Command merged with Maintenance Command to form Support Command on 7 September 1959. On 7 February 1990, Training Command was re-established as a discrete organisation, headquartered at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria. The headquarters re-located to RAAF Williams on 1 January 1999. On 1 July 2006, Training Command was re-formed as Air Force Training Group under Air Command.
Responsibilities and bases
Air Force Training Group is responsible for the provision of training to members of the RAAF, as well as some personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, and overseas defence forces. It also develops training policy and procedures, and supports Air Force public relations activities through the Roulettes aerobatic team, the RAAF Balloon, RAAF Museum, and the Air Force Band. Its units are located at bases in every Australian state and mainland territory.
Structure
Air Force Training Group comprises a headquarters and four major components, or wings: Air Training Wing, Ground Training Wing, Reserve Training Wing, and RAAF College. These components oversee several flying units, ground schools, reserve squadrons, and the Air Force Band.
Commander
As of 2013, Air Force Training Group's commander was Air Commodore Brian Edwards.
Components
Headquarters Air Force Training Group
Headquarters Air Force Training Group is located at RAAF Williams, Victoria. HQ AFTG is responsible for the management of RAAF training through the development of policy and plans, design and review of training programs, evaluation of relevant technology, and the issuing of awards recognising staff qualifications and achievements.
Air Training Wing
Air Training Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, oversees flying instruction for RAAF and other Australian Defence Force personnel, training for air combat officers and air traffic controllers, and public flying displays. It controls several units across Australia:
No. 1 FTS was re-formed in January 2019 at RAAF Base East Sale to conduct basic flying training on the Pilatus PC-21. No. 2 Flying Training School is responsible for advanced flying instruction for both the RAAF and RAN, and operates Pilatus PC-21 aircraft. Central Flying School also operates PC-21s, and is responsible for training flight instructors and maintaining flying standards across the RAAF; it controls the Roulettes aerobatic team and the RAAF Balloon. No. 32 Squadron operates Beechcraft King Air B350 aircraft, which support the School of Air Warfare. RAAF Museum operates several types of heritage aircraft for flying displays.
Ground Training Wing
Ground Training Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base Wagga, New South Wales, is responsible for providing technical and other non-flying training to Air Force personnel. Part of AFTG when the group was formed in 2006, Ground Training Wing merged with RAAF College on 1 January 2008, before being re-raised as a separate wing on 1 December 2009. The wing controls several schools in New South Wales and Queensland:
RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training at RAAF Base Wagga
RAAF School of Technical Training at RAAF Base Wagga
Reserve Training Wing, headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley, provides ground training to the Air Force Reserve, and supports Australian Defence Force units utilising Air Force Reserve personnel. It was formed on 18 May 1998 as Combat Reserve Wing, under Combat Support Group, and renamed Reserve Training Wing on 1 January 2006. The wing controls ten squadrons based throughout Australia:
RAAF College, headquartered at RAAF Base Wagga, is responsible for career development, promotion and leadership training. It was formed at RAAF Base Point Cook on 1 August 1947, and reorganised as RAAF Academy in 1961. It re-formed again as RAAF College in 1986, following the establishment of the tri-service Australian Defence Force Academy. The college took over the schools and responsibilities of Ground Training Wing on 1 January 2008, before the latter was re-raised as a separate organisation on 1 December 2009. RAAF College controls several units in New South Wales and Victoria:
No. 1 Recruit Training Unit at RAAF Base Wagga
School of Postgraduate Studies at RAAF Base Wagga
Officers' Training School at RAAF Base East Sale
Defence International Training Centre at RAAF Williams
