Royal_Military_College_of_Canada

The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers. Located on Point Frederick, a 41-hectare peninsula in Kingston, Ontario, the college is a blend of older, historic buildings and modern academic, athletic, and dormitory facilities.^[2] Officer Cadets are trained in the four pillars of academics, military, athletics, and bilingualism (French and English).

Mission statement

Aerial view of the Royal Military College of Canada.

The Royal Military College of Canada, Canada’s Military University, prepares officer-cadets for a career in the profession of arms and continues the development of other Canadian Forces members and civilians with interest in defence issues. RMC provides programs and courses of higher education and professional development to meet the needs of the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence.^[3]

Responsibilities

RMC is responsible to:

• Provide a university education in both official languages in appropriate disciplines designed on a broad base to meet the unique needs of the Canadian Forces
• Develop qualities of leadership in officer cadets
• Develop the ability to communicate in both official languages for officer cadets
• Develop a high standard of physical fitness
• Stimulate an awareness of the ethic of the military profession
• Conduct research activities in support of RMC and to meet the needs of Defence Research Agencies^[3]

Priorities

The RMC priorities are:

• To build high quality, world-class programs in areas of importance to the Canadian Forces and to Canada,
• To promote national and international collaborations and partnerships, and
• To promote interdisciplinary co-operation.

Academics

RMC's Mackenzie Building at Night

The RMC mission is to educate, train and develop Officer Cadets for leadership careers of effective service in the Canadian Forces-Canadian Forces Air Command, Canadian Forces Maritime Command and Canadian Forces Land Force Command.

For most students, education is free and a monthly salary is paid which meets incidentals. The courses are offered both on site and by distance learning in both official languages: English and French.

RMC offers 19 undergraduate programs^[4] in Arts, Science and Engineering. RMC offers 34 graduate studies^[5] opportunities, including 14 doctorates. In addition to the Faculty (university) of Arts, Engineering, and Science, the Division of Continuing Studies offers undergraduate and graduate level programs including the “Officer Professional Military Education Program” (OPME). The Department of Applied Military Science (AMS) offers a graduate level program - the Land Force Technical Staff Programme (LFTSP) and an undergraduate/community college level program - the Army Technical Warrant Officer's Programme.^[6]

All undergraduate students are required to complete the core curriculum, which is designed to provide a balanced liberal arts, science, and military education. The Core Curriculum consists of Economics, Psychology, Mathematics, English, Calculus, Military history of Canada, Chemistry, Canadian History, Physics and Civics. Cadets can choose to specialize in Aeronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering 1965-1981, 2001-, Chemical and Materials Engineering: 1992-2001, Computer Engineering (Hardware or Software streams) 1983-, Civil Engineering 1965-, Electrical Engineering 1965- and Mechanical Engineering 1965-.^[7] Engineering and Management was offered: 1972-1995. Engineering Physics was offered 1975-1995 and Fuels and Materials Engineering were offered 1982-1991. Engineers provide support to deployed operations and domestic installations. RMC was the first college in Canada to train engineers.^[8]

Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Space Science are offered by the Faculty of Science. The Faculty of Science, in conjunction with the Faculty of Arts, also offers three joint honours degrees: Computer Science and Business Administration, Chemistry and Psychology, and Space Science and Military and Strategic Studies. The science programs are relevant to occupations in both the Canadian Forces and the civilian sector.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts gain practical communication and critical thinking skills as well as specialized, hands-on experience in their chosen field. English, French, Economics, Political Science, History, Business Administration, Military theory, Military strategy studies, Military Psychology and Leadership are offered by the Faculty of Arts.

Awards

Awards are granted to outstanding cadets:

Centres and Institutes

Rank

RMC refers to its students as "Fourth Year", "Third Year", "Second year", and "First year". Most cadets consider first year to be the most difficult because of the rules and restrictions developed to help students transition from civilian to officer cadet. However, the third year is generally considered to be the hardest academically.

Officer cadets are responsible for the discipline, progress, and efficiency of their wing, squadron or flight and carry out service duties such as duty officer. Within the years, cadets can hold positions of increasing responsibility with a cadet rank that may include:

Squadrons of the Cadet Wing

The undergraduate student body, known as the Cadet Wing, is sub-divided into 14 smaller groupings called squadrons, of approximately 70 officer cadets, under the guidance and supervision of senior cadets.^[43] Squadrons are subdivided into flights and sections.

Admission requirements

To be eligible to enter RMC, candidates must meet the course requirements for one of the undergraduate programs in Kingston, Ontario or the preparatory year in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.^[44]

In addition, they must meet the Canadian Forces' general admission conditions (officer):

• Be a Canadian citizen or a Canadian Permanent resident (however, those in this category are only allowed to attend the military college when a proven specific need exists in the forces in which they feel the need to draw from non-Canadian citizens)
• Be 17 years old on January 1 of the year of enrolment
• Pass the medical
• Pass the pre-enrollment tests
• Pass the enhanced reliability check
• Pass the Initial Assessment Period (IAP)

The college recruits well-rounded students in the areas, which correspond to the four components. In addition, RMC gives extra weight to those applicants with second-language skills, although this is not a requirement.

The application process, which is independent from that of the Ontario Universities' Application Centre, uses a separate application form. The Selection Board informs applicants no later than mid-May. Applicants are accepted into the Science, Engineering or Arts Program.^[45]

Training plans

There are several full-time admission options for an education at RMCC.^[46]

ROTP

The Regular Officer Training Plan is a conditional scholarship offered to selected applicants. In addition to a university education, Officer Cadets receive military training, occupation training and second language training and a career after graduation. The full-time salary includes full dental care, as well as vacation with full pay. Upon successful completion of ROTP, Officer Cadets are awarded a university degree and granted commissions as Officers in the Canadian Forces. Normally, graduates serve at least five years with the Canadian Forces. The application deadline to ROTP is in January for Basic Officer Training in July and admission the following September.

Typically, successful applicants enter the Canadian Military College (CMC) System as an Officer Cadet, where they receive an education that balances academics, leadership, bilingualism and athletics. If the choice of programme is not offered, such as Nursing, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy, or the candidate wishes to attend another university, successful applicants would be eligible to apply to any Canadian university where books, lab fees and student fees are covered, and students receive a monthly salary under the Civilian University ROTP.

RETP

The Reserve Entry Training Plan is an education the same as the ROTP but is paid for by the student (not a scholarship). The students also do not draw a salary, however they are not obligated to five years of service after completion. Reserve Entry cadets are, however, paid considerably more than the regular ROTP Officer Cadet salary during their summer training months. They are also entitled to this pay if they attend "Duty/Varsity" away trips (For example, an away game of women's soccer).

Others

• UTPNCM: University Training Plan - Non Commissioned Members for Non Commissioned members of the Canadian Forces to earn a degree and then serve as officers.
• IBDP: Initial Baccalaureate Degree Program, a Baccalaureate program.
• DCS: Division of Continuing Studies, also available part-time

Selection process

Since an application to ROTP is also an application to the Canadian Military College System, all candidates are assessed against an aptitude test, a medical examination, and an interview. Military Potential is an assessment of Aptitudes, Personality Traits, and the choice of occupation. Academic Performance is an a candidate's top six most recent marks related to the requirements of the chosen programme. Officer Cadets are obliged to maintain satisfactory academic and military performance throughout the programme. The cadets come to RMC without Military Occupational Structure Identifications (MOSIDs) but with a list of those they wish to be in. The MOSIDs are categorized into 9 groupings, Operations, Support and Engineering, for each of the three environments (army, navy, airforce). An early acceptance board will be held prior to Christmas in order to make offers to a few top-level candidates who submitted early applications. At the end of first year, Military Career Counselors from the Recruiting Centres will come to RMC and conduct Military Potential (MP) interviews. The merit listing and offers are based on the results of the interview, the results of their first year performance, and recruit camp course report. The individuals will have a year to learn about other MOSIDs so that if they do not get what they were initially after, they will be more likely to accept something else. Individuals who do not get offered anything that they are interested in may submit a voluntary withdrawal without penalty.

Continuing studies

RMC started a graduate studies programme in 1965. The Division of Continuing Studies was established in 1997.^[47]

The mandate of the RMC Division of Continuing Studies is to make university education available to all members of the Canadian Forces, spouses and DND civilian employees. Canadian Forces and other professional training is recognized for credit towards undergraduate or advanced degrees.

Unique degree programs, specially tailored for CF members, include:

• Bachelor of Military Arts & Sciences,
• Master of Defence Management and Policy, and
• Master of Arts in War Studies.^[48]

Reputation

^[49] The RMC was named 2nd best Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category by Research Infosource Inc., which produces Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2009. Half the points were awarded based on financial indicators and the other half based on research output and impact measures.^[50]

Research and partnerships

In the Engineering and Science Divisions, RMC pursues the following principal thematic areas of research:

• Information Technology, Communications, Microelectronics and Chip Technology,
• Environment,
• Energy and Energy development,
• Advanced Materials engineering,
• Geotechnical Engineering, and
• Fluid Mechanics and Engineering.

• The RMC Green Team^[51] provides internal consultants on environmental issues:
  • water,
  • wastewater, and stormwater management,
  • composting,
  • renewable energy and
  • energy reduction.

In the Social Sciences and Humanities Divisions, RMC pursues research and activities in:

• Military history,
• Political science and international security,
• Peacekeeping and peacemaking,
• Comparative government, international relations and ethical code of conduct in conflict,
• Leadership, and
• Economics.

• The RMC Centre for Security, Armed Forces and Society (CSAS-CESFAS) provides a focal point for research conducted within the Faculty of Arts and facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the Department of National Defence, other research institutions, scholars and Canadian civil society.

In the Department of Applied Military Science (AMS), RMC pursues:

• the Land Force Technical Staff Programme (Captains & Majors);
• the Technical Warrant Officer Programme (Warrant Officers & Master Warrant Officers).^[52]

The Diploma in Military Arts and Sciences (DMASc) provides Non-Commissioned Members (NCMs) of the Canadian Forces an online program made possible by a partnership between OntarioLearn (Algonquin College consortium member), the RMC, and the Canadian Defence Academy. Under a RMC and Algonquin College articulation agreement, all graduates of this diploma program who apply to the RMC will be admitted into the Bachelor of Military Arts and Sciences degree program with advanced standing.^[53]

Military training

As an RMC cadet, military training begins with a three week military introduction held at RMC in the summer prior to first year. Phase I of training continues the following summer with the Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School Saint-Jean. The cadets will complete between 8 and 11 weeks of training in that one summer if they are credited their 4 weeks of recruit camp. After the completion of BOTP, those cadets who are not yet bilingual are usually enrolled in a seven-week period of Second Language Training (SLT) at Canadian Forces Language School Detachment Saint-Jean. The remaining summers are spent completing Phase II, which are environmental training courses (depending on whether the cadet is Canadian Army, Navy or Air force).

On the job training courses are also available to a number of cadets during the summer periods. During Phases III and IV, students take trade specific training courses.

For the most part, military training occurs at locations other than RMC while the college itself focuses on military education.

First Year Orientation Period

First Year Orientation Period, (FYOP) is the most demanding experience for many cadets' RMC, if not military, career. FYOP takes place during the first month of the academic year. It can be compared to Frosh week at civilian universities. FYOP begins with the Arch parade where the entire First Year class is marched onto College grounds by their FYOP staff consisting of Third and Fourth Years.^[54]

During the course of FYOP, First Year cadets are required to keep an exceptionally high standard of dress and deportment. They are required to march at all times. Physical Training is conducted, with long runs up neighbouring Fort Henry, Ontario hill a frequent occurrence. Inspections of room standards and dress are conducted daily. For the duration of FYOP, First Years are not permitted to leave RMC or receive visitors. Mail and phone calls are allowed but are limited.

The culmination of the FYOP is the obstacle course. The obstacle course lasts over 2 hours and consists of thirteen obstacles built by each squadron located around the college grounds. Obstacles such as a 12-foot wall and rope bridge are designed to test teamwork and physical fitness of First Years. The First Year flights are judged on the time it takes to complete each obstacle. The completion of the obstacle course signals the end of FYOP. Afterwards, First Years are given a parade where they are officially welcomed into RMC and join the Cadet Wing. Cadets are then allowed to see their friends and relatives after 7 weeks, and allowed the freedom to leave college grounds under the condition that they wear their College uniform.

Second year cadets, in RMC's mentorship program, are paired with first year cadets to mentor, guide, and influence them.

Many of the aspects of the FYOP, including the obstacle course and mentorship program, were developed by the post-war Chesley committee, led by Brigadier Leonard McEwan Chelsey, O.B.E., E.D. The committee made recommendations about the education and training of officer candidates for the postwar active force. In addition, the committee made recommendations about the provision of French speaking officers and arrangements for promotion from the ranks. ^[55]

Law

The Military Law Centre on the grounds of RMC, staffed with 12 military lawyers, oversees the education of officers and troops in legal matters ranging from the Forces' own code of conduct to the laws of war. It trains military lawyers and advises Ottawa on matters of policy and doctrine. The centre integrates legal education into the regular training that Forces members undergo and establishes its growing importance within the military hierarchy.^[56] Selected RMC Canada cadets participate in Law Of Armed Conflict international Competitions each fall with cadets from USAFA, USMA, USNA, and USCGA. Each year, RMC cadets are selected to participate in a competition on the Law of Armed Conflict at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Sanremo, Italy.

Athletics

Royal Military College of Canada Cadets perform human pyramid in 1901

Obstacle course training at Royal Military College of Canada

Royal Military College of Canada Cadets compete at Sandhurst Competition in 2009

One of the four Components of the Royal Military College of Canada, the mission of the Athletic component is to provide opportunities for all officer-cadets to participate in physical activities and sports that are mentally demanding in order to develop their overall physical capabilities, self-confidence and leadership.^[57] The Physical education mission is “to establish a strong foundation of skills and knowledge in physical fitness, sports, and military-related activities through a progressive and diverse physical education program for RMC Officer Cadets” The Vision is “foster a passion for active living and leadership in physical activity.” To enhance their physical fitness and develop military and athletic skills necessary to lead their troops, Cadets must take physical education classes and play intramural sports every year - for a minimum of four hours per week. The first year program focusses on personal physical fitness: theory on exercise physiology, nutrition, training principles and injury prevention. The cadets complete the Basic Military Swim Standard test. The second year program focussed on collective sports: soccer, broomball, spinning, volleyball, basketball, squash, badminton, flag-football, handball, water polo and softball. Cadets acquire basic skills to organize a sport tournament. The third year program focusses on military skills: unarmed combat, different obstacle courses, waterborne training and military rappelling. The fourth year program focussed on individual sports: canoeing, rock climbing, weight training, swimming and life guarding, advanced unarmed combat, pressure points control tactics and spinning leadership.^[57]

• The RMC 2008-9 varsity sports are: basketball, fencing, hockey, rugby, running, soccer, taekwondo and volleyball.
• The RMC 2008-9 intramural leagues are: ball hockey, basketball, dodgeball, handball, ice hockey, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and waterpolo.
• The RMC 2008-9 club sports are broomball, cheerleading, cycling, fish & game, judo, juggling, outdoors, paintball, social dance, triathlon/running, water polo, windsurfing, rugby, and yacht.

^[57]

Every year, the ice hockey team faces the United States Military Academy (Army) Black Knights in the annual West Point Weekend hockey game.^[58] This series, conceived in 1923, is the longest running annual international sporting event in the world.^[59]

RMC Bands

The Massed Band, consisting of the Brass and Reed, Pipes and Drums, and Highland Dancers, perform at parades, public relation trips and recruit shows. The Brass and Reed Band is a multi-purpose section, used primarily as a parade march and concert band. The Pipe Section and the Drum Section perform at mess dinners; parades; sporting events; ceremonies (official or squadron); weddings; funerals; public relations; wing events; Christmas and Graduation Balls; private events; and holidays. The Highland Dance Section perform at many of the same functions with the exception of parades and funerals. The Choir performs the Canadian national anthem; sings at mess dinners; and accompanies the Stage Band on selected pieces including: folk, jazz, traditional music, French music, show tunes, African music and Christmas songs. The Stage Band is versatile, performing dinner music followed by marches at college mess dinners. The Cheer Band, a subsidiary of the Brass and Reed, performs music for RMC sporting events, such as the Carr-Harris Cup and the Westpoint Weekend.^[60]

The RMC Band recorded two CDs, one in 1996 and the other in 1998.^[61] "The Sound of Scarlet: Royal Military College of Canada" by Lieutenant-Commander D.K. Dickey is a 12" record circa 1960s or early 1970s for Summit Records. A 12" LP record "Royal Military College of Canada 1876-Centennial-1976" was produced by Captain D.F. Pelley for the Commandant, RMC in 1976 in celebration of RMC's centennial and another 12" LP "Royal Military College of Canada Pipe Band (1961)" was recorded by Edward Productions Ltd, Montreal.

Campus

Mackenzie Building, RMC, in 1880

RMC is located on Point Frederick (Kingston), a small peninsula at the point where the St. Lawrence River leaves Lake Ontario and where the Rideau Canal system starts.^[62]

The location has been an active military base since 1789 and the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, located on the site, was an important dockyard during the War of 1812.

RMC Campus in 1920

Line of defence: three Martello towers (Shoal Tower, Frederick Tower, Cathcart Tower) in Kingston, Ontario

Point Frederick includes three National Historic Site Designations: the 1920s Royal Navy Dockyard, the Point Frederick Buildings^[63] and Kingston Fortifications.^[64]

RMC, the first officer training college in Canada, opened in 1876 with 18 cadets receiving military and academic instruction. It was granted university status in 1959. ^[65]

The Stone Frigate,^[66] a large stone building completed in 1820 by Sir Robert Barrie, was designed to hold gear and rigging from British warships dismantled in compliance with the Rush-Bagot Agreement.^[67] It served as a barracks briefly in 1837-38, and was refitted as a dormitory and classrooms to house RMC by 1876. ^[68] During the Great Depression in Canada of the 1930s, an unemployment relief camp on Barriefield lower common was set up under the command of the RMC Commandant. Public works projects at the Royal Military College in Kingston relied on the labour of the 'Royal Twenty Centers' supplied by the under the Unemployment Relief Commission. The public works projects included rebuiding the dry stone wall and moat of Fort Frederick; the physics building extension, the connection from the Fort Frederick Dormitory to the new Yeo mess building, the new wing of the hospital, a new garage, road work, levelling the grounds at RMC for new football fields and a new running track. ^[69]

Student life

Canadian officers in mess dress or mess kit. Miniature medals and other accoutrements are also worn.

• In winter 2009, Royal Military College officer cadets returned to wearing a distinctive Dress of the Day (DOD) uniform which consists of a white shirt, black sweater/light jacket, as well as black trousers/skirt with a red stripe down the side. The headdress is a black wedge with red piping.^[70]
• The RMC Cadet Mess in Yeo Hall has facilities for social and recreational activities. Staff and faculty have access to the Senior Staff Mess. Mess dress is worn in the SSM for formal occasions such as mess dinners.
• Both the Roman Catholic and Protestant chapels at RMC are located in Yeo Hall.
• The Baronial Hall or Currie Hall, which was designed in 1922 by Percy Erskine Nobbs to honour the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I play a prominent role in the life of the University. During special events, invited speakers and dignitaries may address the University population or general public from the Great Hall. Many conferences held in Kingston, Ontario may book the halls for lectures or presentations.
• The CANEX is a small retail store in Yeo Hall for personal articles, souvenirs, snacks and dry cleaning.
• Bill & Alphie's, the on-campus cadet pub in Yeo Hall, is named after Bruce Bairnsfather's Great War cartoon characters.
• The campus is on the shore of Lake Ontario and has easy access to two lake-front parks, favourite locations for students to relax and unwind. The campus is also located approximately 10 minutes' walk from the city's downtown.
• RMC cadets are all encouraged to perform community service. This past year, cadets supported a variety of charitable causes in Kingston, Ontario.
• There are 25 student clubs and organizations associated with the RMC: Arts, Astronomy, Broomball, Cheerleading, Climbing, Cycling, Debating, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Fish & Game, Judo, Juggling, Outdoors, Paintball, Photo, Power Flying, Social Dance, Stage Band, Theatre, Triathlon/Running, Video Editing, War Games, Water Polo, Windsurfing, Women's Rugby and Yachting.^[71]

Alumni giving

The Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada Foundation is a registered Canadian charity which was incorporated in 1966. As an element of the Canadian Forces, the college is unable to fund a conventional full time fundraising team in a development office. The foundation, consequently, works at arms length to assist the college financially. Capital Campaigns have included the 2364 Leonard Birchall Pavilion (2007); Memorial Arch Restoration (2001) and the New Library Campaign (2013).^[72]

Media

• RMC cadets produce the campus newspaper, the Precision. The alumni association produces Veritas^[73] and e-Veritas.^[74]

Summer programs

The facilities are used during the summer for:

• HMCS Ontario, a Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Summer Training Centre^[75]
• "Can you dig it?" a week long archaeology summer camp.^[76]
• Conferences and sporting events
• Summer athletic and fencing camps at RMC include: RMC Soccer Camp "Kingston Kicks"; RMC Fencing High Performance Training Camp; RMC Super Summer Sports Camp; RMC Pirate Camp; RMC Volleyball Camp.^[77]

Features and buildings

Panorama of the Royal Military College of Canada [78]

The Massey Library collection consists of approximately 135,000 books, 1,800 audio-visual items and 1,200 periodicals in English and French. The library possesses RMC historical material including cadet photographs, scrapbooks, collections, diaries, and letters. The major collections follow:

Dormitories

RMC has five dormitories, which are similar to most universities and provide the basic necessities. Organized by squadron, dormitories are co-educational with separate washrooms for men and women. Officer Cadets share a room in first year, and sometimes in succeeding years depending on availability of space, if possible with someone who is proficient in the other official language.

Memorials and traditions

e.g. Triumphal arch; Trophies, Commemorative and Memorial Trees, Monuments, Plaques, and Others. This includes a list of RMC Traditions and RMC Militaria & Collectibles

Environmental assessments

Having three national historical designations, environmental assessments (which also involve archaeological studies) are required before construction activities are implemented on the college grounds. While planning to build a new dormitory at RMC, a required environmental assessment revealed the remains of a naval dockyard. This dockyard was significant in the building of ships by the British during the War of 1812. Because of the site's significance, a full archaeological dig had to be implemented before construction of the new dorminitory could begin.^[106]

History

The Royal Military College of Canada "was the first military college to be established in a colonial dependency and it had a double function, the preparation of cadets for civilian careers as well as for military commissions." Richard A Preston, Canada's RMC. The Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard was a Royal Navy yard from 1788 to 1853 at the site of the current Royal Military College of Canada.