Royal Air Force School of Physical Training partners with CIMSPA
We are pleased to announce that the Royal Air Force (RAF) School of Physical Training (SofPT) has joined the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) as a Skills Development Partner and has aligned its leading physical training to CIMSPA professional standards.
The provision of Physical Education (PEd) by RAF Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) is key in providing opportunities for RAF personnel to develop appropriate robustness, resilience and readiness to effectively respond to deployed and home-based operational requirements.
The School of Physical Training delivers a 28-week specialist training course to qualify specifically selected RAF recruits as PTIs. The course covers class instructional techniques across a broad range of physical domains and human performance, the effects of exercise on the body, leadership, coaching techniques, sports administration and officiating. The Personal Trainer, Gym Instructor and Core Group Exercise Instructor elements of the PTI course are now aligned to CIMSPA professional standards.
By benchmarking this specialist training course to CIMSPA professional standards, PTI graduates can progress through their military service safe in the knowledge that, when they do transition into civilian life, they are immediately job-ready for a second career in the sport and physical activity sector.
Tara Dillon, CIMSPA CEO, commented: “We’re delighted that the School of Physical Training have joined us as CIMSPA skills development partners, as the Royal Air Force’s Physical Training Instructor course represents some of the highest standards in exercise and fitness qualifications.
“It’s testament to how the School of Physical Training have the long-term career interests of their personnel at heart with how they pro-actively approached CIMSPA to benchmark their course against the sector’s professional standards.
“This is a perfect example of the long term career pathways the employer-led CIMSPA professional standards project is putting in place.”
Sqn Ldr Steed, Training Branch and Trade Advisor (Physical Education), welcomed the new partnership: “Royal Air Force Physical Training Instructors develop physical and agile personnel through operationally focused Physical Education activities; the establishment of the CIMSPA partnership demonstrates our commitment and support to our Physical Training Instructors”.
Officer Commanding, School of Physical Training, added: “The Royal Air Force School of Physical Training’s new partnership with CIMSPA recognizes the excellence within our training and our aspiration for appropriate recognition. This collegiate partnership will further enhance our ability to educate our instructors in the delivery of high quality, bespoke and authentic specialist training across the globe”.