I met a serving Corporal on my RCB and he told me about an 11 week course he did prior to going to RCB. From what he told me it gave a serving soldier a distinct headstart in terms of preparation. Can anyone shed any light on the course content? He also had some very useful info sheets, including a detailed job description of an Army Officer which would be useful for interviews e.t.c. Does anyone have any access to these as I'd be interested to read up on such areas.
I know they did lots of essays, presentations and cultural visits just wondering if anyone knew any more detail? I'm looking to replicate some of their activities prior to my second crack at the board after only a borderline fail last year.
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PODC (Potential Officer Development Course)
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Maverick00
- Member
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
POD course
Maverick00,
I wouldn't dig too deep into POD course content, you already know what's expected of you at the RCB if you've attempted it before.
Did you receive any feedback after your first attempt? If not, where did you think you went wrong? Physical training can be improved, you can continue to read up on current affairs, history and military knowledge.
Public speaking skills for the lecturettes can be improved by practising in front of friends and family and a video camera, as you will be expected to do in Communications studies at RMAS.
What about essay writing? Did you follow this outline? One main idea, 3 supporting ideas, all linked by transitional sentences plus a succint, punchy conclusion. How is your spelling and grammar?
My hunch is that the RCB will expect considerable improvement in these areas from any returning candidate, as you already know the types of questions you will be asked.
What about command tasks? If you considered that part of the RCB onerous or difficult I wouldn't bother pursuing a career as an officer.
This is not to say that soldiers don't do command tasks as well, but it really is the bread and butter of RCB and RMAS, as I discovered.
I wouldn't dig too deep into POD course content, you already know what's expected of you at the RCB if you've attempted it before.
Did you receive any feedback after your first attempt? If not, where did you think you went wrong? Physical training can be improved, you can continue to read up on current affairs, history and military knowledge.
Public speaking skills for the lecturettes can be improved by practising in front of friends and family and a video camera, as you will be expected to do in Communications studies at RMAS.
What about essay writing? Did you follow this outline? One main idea, 3 supporting ideas, all linked by transitional sentences plus a succint, punchy conclusion. How is your spelling and grammar?
My hunch is that the RCB will expect considerable improvement in these areas from any returning candidate, as you already know the types of questions you will be asked.
What about command tasks? If you considered that part of the RCB onerous or difficult I wouldn't bother pursuing a career as an officer.
This is not to say that soldiers don't do command tasks as well, but it really is the bread and butter of RCB and RMAS, as I discovered.
"Poor Ike, it won't be a bit like the Army. He'll find it very frustrating. He'll sit here and he'll say, 'Do this! Do that!' And nothing will happen."
Harry Truman
Harry Truman
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Maverick00
- Member
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon 21 Apr, 2003 5:23 pm
- Location: Essex/Loughborough
Thanks, was just a question I had been meaning to ask, I was intruiged about what it involved.
In terms of the points you mentioned, based on my feedback I could improve on the current affairs tests e.t.c. The rest were fine. As for command tasks, I was reported only to have shown flashes of practical ability. This, I felt, was a result of lacking a little confidence in terms of problem solving and I have made plans for the year to improve this. My own command task went well and this was noted in the report, it was the leaderless ones where I was perhaps a tad too quiet.
You're right though, in the end I know what to expect!
In terms of the points you mentioned, based on my feedback I could improve on the current affairs tests e.t.c. The rest were fine. As for command tasks, I was reported only to have shown flashes of practical ability. This, I felt, was a result of lacking a little confidence in terms of problem solving and I have made plans for the year to improve this. My own command task went well and this was noted in the report, it was the leaderless ones where I was perhaps a tad too quiet.
You're right though, in the end I know what to expect!
