Hi All,
Just getting the scope on the DI Course. I’m off to the ivory towers in a couple of months to become a drill monkey so i was wondering is there any hints and tips out there. Im planning to spend a fair amount of time with my local DI to prepare for the course. Has anyone experienced it and could give me some pointers?
Thanks
Corbs
Not done it. But I do find it difficult to know what they can teach in a week if the Drill Manual is followed correctly.
It’s been 8 or 9 years since I did mine. Then, the first day was a written test, uniform inspection, revision of Flt and Sqn Drill, Wing Drill, Qualities of a DI… that sort of thing.
Tuesday we were told which movement we’d be teaching (it was either a turn on the march, or change step, in quick time).
Tuesday, Wednesday were spent preparing our lessons in syndicates as well as filler activities such as closed stick drill, Banner drill, changing from slow to quick time…
Those who were ready were assessed on Wednesday afternoon, the remainder were assessed throughout the day on Thursday.
Friday morning was a written test, certificates, course appraisal, then home.
It was a great week! I found it to be a very enjoyable course. Having been told by colleagues that it was the toughest course they’d ever done I was more than a bit nervous. When it came to it, I didn’t actually find it particularly difficult.
Fortunately I have a head for remembering, so once I learned the drill mutual verbatim (before I went) all I had to do was focus on the demonstrations and just keep doing it.
Pre course preparation definitely helped! Memorising the parade diagrams was a must.
If you know you’re good at drill and you can learn a script you should be okay.
I am told that the course has been tightened up since then and the standard raised, which I think is a good thing!!
My tips would be:
[ul]
[li]Ensure that your personal drill is top notch.[/li]
[li]If you can learn the drill mutual wording before you go (they used to provide it with the JIs), so much the better.[/li]
[li]Learn parade layouts - locations of Execs and Supernumeraries for Flt, Sqn, Wing drill; layout of parade square, etc.[/li]
[li]Practice stick drill using a stick, umbrella etc (I was amazed at how many people on my course couldn’t keep the stick parallel with the ground when marching at the trail).[/li]
[li]Ensure that if you pass you come away and keep learning. Whilst you’ll be qualified as a DI, you’ll be nowhere near the standard of an RAF Q-DI. If you want to be credible, keep working on it.[/li]
[/ul]
you could argue the same about teaching weapons handling for the L98A2 if following PAM5C correctly what does two long, difficult weekends of the SAAI teach?
I know that is a different situation where it cannot be done without holding the qual, but as i see it the DI (and teh SAAI) is a MOI course, it is how to bring the regs on the paper to life on the drill square by using the various methods and and tools (like the drill mutual) that a DI has over a non pace-stick waving instructor of drill.
I will also be going on this course soon even though I was a RAF DI only 3 years ago the ACO is still making me go do this course must admit I am thinking about not going on it seems like a waste of a week for me and as I dont get paid holidays being a contractor it will also cost a lot
That does sound somewhat stupid to me. I can understand why there used to be a requirement to be ATF-course-qualified a few years ago when we used a different manual but if someone has been an RAF DI and using the same drill manual that the ACO is currently using then there needs to be a path whereby that prior (superior) qualification can be recognised.
There might even be a legitimate justification to allow RAF-qualified DIs now in ACO service to wear a blue sash whilst carrying out drill instruction, though that would no doubt put some noses out of joint 
Maybe this is one for Clint
That does sound somewhat stupid to me. I can understand why there used to be a requirement to be ATF-course-qualified a few years ago when we used a different manual but if someone has been an RAF DI and using the same drill manual that the ACO is currently using then there needs to be a path whereby that prior (superior) qualification can be recognised.
There might even be a legitimate justification to allow RAF-qualified DIs now in ACO service to wear a blue sash whilst carrying out drill instruction, though that would no doubt put some noses out of joint
Maybe this is one for Clint :)[/quote]
Perhaps it’s something that can be done on SSIC, at the end of the week for example, just to check they can do what they say they can.
[quote=“timmyrah” post=15987]Perhaps it’s something that can be done on SSIC, at the end of the week for example, just to check they can do what they say they can.[/quote]Surely the RAF issue some sort of course certificate and register the qualification on whatever system they use for these things. Who are we (the ACO) to require any further proof of qualification.
SSIC as a whole should be able to moderate any pre-service tendency to treat cadets as RAF recruits 
[quote=“incubus” post=15986]
Maybe this is one for Clint :)[/quote]
It sounds like the sort of thing he’d think is pretty pointless. Has ATF said you have to do the course, zinggy? Or just someone local?
And if nothing else, is anyone actually demanding that Zinggy be an ATC qualified DI for something in particular?
Because if not, he could always just teach drill anyway, as anyone can!
[quote=“MattB” post=15994]And if nothing else, is anyone actually demanding that Zinggy be an ATC qualified DI for something in particular?
Because if not, he could always just teach drill anyway, as anyone can![/quote]
There are plenty who disagree with that sentiment…
Can you evidence your qualification? If so, give it to your WExO and tell them that a) you already hold a higher qual and b) that you will end up losing money if they insist you do the course.
It’s anality like this that makes me despair about this organization.
Can you evidence your qualification? If so, give it to your WExO and tell them that a) you already hold a higher qual and b) that you will end up losing money if they insist you do the course.
It’s anality like this that makes me despair about this organization.[/quote]
Yep I have the proof on my record of service which lists every single course and Q I did while in the RAF. believe it or not I was told by the Wing Commander That I would have to do it again and if it is the case I will more than likely give it a miss…
I’d be inclined to ask him why he thinks you need to do it again. I’d also ask him if he actually KNOWS what the RAF DI qual is all about in comparison to the mickey-mouse course…
In all fairness the ACO are the ones missing out on it not me lol
Exactly.
By being anal about things, they’re losing out on an experienced member of staff that could exercise a qualification for the benefit of the kids.
Can they not see that?
Perhaps there’s cadet specific information which isn’t trained on regulars’ courses?
Just a thought? :?
I have to confess, I was wondering when this subject would appear on ACC.
You may have guessed already what my history is. I’m afraid I made a mistake when I first went into uniform in the ACO. I turned up for a drill practice for the Wing Drill Competition and was told by my Sqn’s other SNCO that I was not permitted to carry the stick, which I stress was carried open (Zinggy will know what I mean and it’s connotations). Naturally, (as I had been allowed to bring over my SAAI, SA07, SAB90 and such other quals form my time as a soldier) I thought I would be able to carry my pace stick to correctly instruct drill and not just carry it around as a status symbol as I’m sure some do.
I was told that I would have to do the one week course at ATF if I wanted to carry my pace stick.
Now this I found rather odd. I had already completed my All Arms Drill Instructor’s Course at Pirbright. I had also completed the Advanced course. This meant that I had spent over 13 weeks being trained in the art of drill instruction, including ceremonial, sword and of course, pace stick drill. (Hence the comment on having the stick open) No, this was still not considered enough. Apparently the drill is slightly different. Hmmm, different? The three RAF Regiment guys I met over my two courses didn’t seem to be under that illusion!!
So I turn up on my SSIC and explained, I thought quite modestly, that I would like my qualifications recognised by ACO. Despite having both certificates with me, despite offering to show my capabilities and technique, I was asked not to. It would be - and I quote - “Better for you to come back and do the course as it is quite intensive”. Intensive? Really?
I was reminded at this point that I cannot carry my pace stick for drill instruction until I had completed the DI course.
It may sound petulent, but my beliefs are the same as Zinggy. I will not be going to ATF to do the course because I refuse to waste the limited holiday I get for something that will be a pointless waste of both mine and ATF’s time.
And, what is more, (I’m such a rowdy rebel) I will continue to use my pace stick (open) because it is a training aid and technical instrument; no different from a whiteboard, flip chart or anything else when used properly and not just slung under the arm to look impressive.
[quote=“Plt Off Prune” post=16014]Perhaps there’s cadet specific information which isn’t trained on regulars’ courses?
Just a thought? :?[/quote]
A fair thought… but no, there isn’t.
The SSDIC is just a hugely cut down version of the RAF DI course.
No cadet specific stuff. Drill is drill.
The 3 week RAF DI course is ATC-ified into one week by dropping the ceremonial aspect and the arms drill aspect (obviously, as there’s a separate course for that); only focusing on the delivery of one lesson for one movement in quick time; and only lightly touching on everything else.
The training objectives are enough to give someone a base understanding of drill instruction and to make them familiar with the drill mutual and lesson format.
To both Racing Stick and Zinggy, I’d say that: OC ATF and WO ATF posts are both changing in a few months. Perhaps the new incumbents will be more pragmatic?
As an ATC DI I fail to see what could have been taught to us on our course that a previously serving DI wouldn’t know far more intimately.
Has anyone with existing qualifications gone and done the DI course at ATF, because they are only the ones who can offer a credible answer as to whether it’s a waste of time and resources.