Media

Department of Applied Military Science (AMS)

Article 1

The AMS advantage: A key enabler of success in the modern operating environment, by Suzanne Lebeau, The Maple Leaf Vol 10. No 11, 25 April 2007

Article 2

Leaders with “the AMS advantage”, by Suzanne Lebeau, The Maple Leaf, Vol 10, No 23 8 August 2007

Article 3

The Master Gunner qualification… so much more than gunnery

By: LCol Sylvain Beauséjour, Curriculum Director AMS.

One of the Royal Military College Department of Applied Military Science (AMS) programmes is called the Army Technical Warrant Officer (ATWO) Programme. The ATWO Programme’s primary purpose is to support the Canadian Forces by providing Warrant Officers with a solid academic foundation in science & technology plus management and critical thinking skills to become key players in operational capability generation and management for the Land Forces. Based on the former Master Gunner course which was offered in Gagetown until 2003, the ATWO Programme has evolved into much more than gunnery. It entails broad military subjects such as Communications, Information Management, ISTAR, Vehicles, Weapons, Defence Management, Trials and System Engineering to name a few. It prepares Warrant Officers to serve at the operational and strategic level in the institutional Army.

When asked to comment about the value of their qualifications in their new functions, ATWO graduates provided some very interesting testimonials. For example, MWO Ted Gombert, a member of the Engineer Branch and a graduate from last year, became the very first NCO Project Director for a major project (Army Heavy Equipment Replacement and Mechanical Breaching Systems) within Land Force Headquarters. When asked if the ATWO Programme contributed to his effectiveness in his new posting he unhesitantly answered yes and commented on how rewarding it is to bring his new skills to the Capability Development world.

WO Alain Bernard (now commissioned), is a member of the Armour Corps and a 2006 graduate. He was amazed to realize how much the Programme helped him to, not only understand all the technical aspects of a working group on the cooling of the electronics on the Leopard 2A6Ms, but also to propose a working solution that made some wonder why they had not thought of it first.

A member of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and graduate from last year, WO Dave Aldred participated in a Joint Tactical Data Link Advisory Panel. He commented on the value of the military communication, information system and ISTAR courses in contributing to his understanding of the complex issues facing a Joint, Interagency, Multinational and Public (JIMP) oriented command structure.

These three graduates, like many others, are facing challenges far more complex than gunnery and being equipped with the “AMS Advantage” certainly benefits both the CF and themselves. More and more, our Land Force needs experienced Warrant Officers who can combine their valuable operational experience with their newly acquired technological, managerial and critical thinking skills to become key enablers of our future operational capabilities. They truly are our “tomorrow’s leaders” today.

For information about the programmes offered by AMS, visit our Web site or contact your career manager.