Call for Expressions of Interest – Chief of Air Force Fellowship 2012

Nominations are sought from Permanent Air Force officers (WGCDR-SQNLDR) of any specialisation interested in filling a CAF Fellowship through the Air Power Development Centre (APDC) and UNSW@ADFA in 2012. The aim of the re-instigated CAF Fellowship Program is to produce an officer with a broad education on air power strategy and national security issues, who may be published and has a recognised high-level tertiary qualification. For suitably qualified applicants, this will be an opportunity to undertake research on current and emergent issues for Air Force and to direct their findings towards facilitating decision-making about the future of air and space power for Australia.

The APDC and ADFA are located in Canberra and the Fellowship will be of approximately 12 months duration, commencing January 2012. Applicants will be enrolled in a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) (course code: 2225) at UNSW@ADFA and as such need to be eligible to undertake this program. See the UNSW@ADFA website to determine eligibility requirements. (http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/general/2010/SSAPO/AwardRulesMPhil.html).

The MPhil course is a 12 month full-time program that includes four units of course work (with at least a credit level of achievement in each course being required in order to progress to the research phase) and the preparation of a 40,000 word research thesis.  Successful completion of the online Advanced Air Power Course conducted by the Air Power Development Centre can also count as one unit standing towards the academic requirement. UNSW@ADFA has a range of courses that can be selected from, such as air power, research and analysis methods, strategy and military affairs, defence and policy planning, Asian studies, and international relations. The 40,000 word research thesis is to be on a subject agreed between the CAF Fellow and APDC – thus ensuring it is written to meet a RAAF requirement. The APDC may publish the thesis if deemed appropriate. Additionally, there will be opportunities for the CAF Fellow to conduct seminars at the end of their research and facilitate workshops during the research phase to inform the thesis.

On completion of the CAF Fellowship, officers will most likely be employed at the strategic level in organisations such as AFHQ, APDC, Strategy Group, I&S Group, or other government departments or agencies.

Essential Criteria

• Be PAF SQNLDR or WGCDR of any specialisation
• Have an undergraduate degree in an associated or relevant fiel
• Have not completed a Masters by research
• Have completed the PMET requirements for their substantive rank
• Be assessed as at least suitable for promotion in the last PAR
• Be assessed as at least suitable for representational duties in the last PAR
• Be individually ready
• Be eligible to obtain entry to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) program at UNSW@ADFA

Desirable Criteria

• Have completed or be enrolled in the APDC on-line Advanced Air Power Course
• Have not completed a Masters qualification

Applying for the Fellowship

Applications close on 4 July 2011 and late applications will not be accepted.

Applications should go through your chain of command and onto DP-AF for initial consideration. A short synopsis of no more than 500 words on the research topic and its value to the RAAF should be supplied with the application for CAF Fellowship in accordance with Annex A.

COs and Section Commanders are requested to provide detailed comments on the applicants’ suitability to undertake the CAF Fellowship – especially their suitability for promotion and representational duties.

APDC and DP-AF will reduce the applications down to the best three. As this is a highly important role, DCAF will recommend the final candidate to CAF for his approval.

Successful fellows will be posted to the APDC for duty starting January 2012.

Interested officers are requested to contact Ms Sandra Di Guglielmo at the APDC, ph (02) 62661355 or at sandra.diguglielmo@defence.gov.au.

Applications are to be submitted to DP-AF by COB 4 Jul 11. The DP-AF POC, SQNLDR Brett Mitchell on Tel: 02 6265 2322.

Annex

A. 2012 CAF Fellowship Application Format