Defence Trainer Supervisor Course

Foundation
For those who supervise defence trainers within a phase 1 to 3 training establishment. Covering assessment, coaching and development.
An army officer and civilian pointing to an interactive whiteboard.

Course Information

Level: Foundation
Location: Shrivenham
School/Centre: Defence Centre for Training Support
Course Code: DTS
Duration: 3-days - residential
When: 1 October 2025

About this course

Delivered by the Defence Centre for Training Support (DCTS), this course is for all ranks and civil service personnel who are supervisors of phase 1, 2 and 3 trainers.

To provide and prepare you as a supervisor of defence trainers with the techniques and skills to assess the delivery skills of your trainers and to then coach and develop your trainers to reach their full potential.

The course covers issues surrounding delivery of courses focusing on the principles of assessing and coaching of trainers.

This is a mandatory course for all new trainer supervisors within phase 1, 2 and 3 training establishments.

Please Note: All our courses will be open for application 6 months prior to the course start date and will appear in the 'Planed Dates' box when we are accepting applications. Once DCTS reaches application capacity for a singular course iteration, these course dates will be removed from the 'Planned Dates' box. In the table below you can see all course iterations for the full training year and when they will become open for application. For further information please refer to the DCTS DIN; 2025DIN07-019-Defence Centre for Training Support (DCTS) course information and instruction, which can be found on MODnet.

Applications for the course will be closed 6 weeks Prior to the start date.

Defence Trainer Supervisor – planned courses TY25/26

Course Number

Course Dates

Open for Application from

DTS 001

28 – 30 Apr 25

Dec 24

DTS 002

19 – 21 May 25

Dec 25

DTS 003

23 – 25 Jun 25

Jan 25

DTS 004

01 – 03 Oct 25

May 25

DTS 005

10 – 12 Nov 25

Jun 25

DTS 006

26 – 28 Jan 26

Aug 25

What you will learn

You will learn:

How this course will help your career

To ensure those of you in phase 1, 2 and 3 training establishments are properly supervised.

Entry requirements

Who can attend this course

  • Military
  • MOD civil servants

This course is for supervisors of defence trainers in phase 1, 2 or 3 training establishments.

DCTS Priority Matrix Applicants are to use the priority matrix below to identify where they best fall as a priority for the course. On receipt of application acknowledgement and student justification form from DCTS, all applicants are to list their priority number and return the student justification detailing why they fall within the below priority.

Priority Matrix

No:

Overview:

Detail:

1

Specific operational requirements

Contained within student justification. Unit*/Line Manager agreement (Defence Trainer Manager, Training Officer, or OF3/C2). Evidence required: For example, assignment order/detachment notice and/or extract from TOR's.

2

Unit Critical, no unit qualified individuals

Contained within student justification. Unit*/Line Manager agreement (Defence Trainer Manager, Training Officer, or OF3/C2). Evidence required: Evidence of unit risk (training will be cancelled or reduced. Safety could be compromised). In addition, assignment order/detachment notice and/or extract from TOR's.

3

Unit Urgent, reduced number of trained personnel

Contained within student justification. Unit*/Line Manager agreement (Defence Trainer Manager, Training Officer, or OF3/C2). Evidence required: Evidence of unit risk (training will be cancelled or reduced. Safety could be compromised). In addition, assignment order/detachment notice and/or extract from TOR's.

4

Current role requirement

Contained within student justification. Line Manager agreement (Training Officer or OF3/C2). Evidence required: Assignment order and/or extract TOR's required and Navy Training Managers in phase 2 training.

5

Professional, branch or trade requirement or promotion

Contained within student justification. Line Manager agreement (OF3/C2). Evidence required: Identifying courses for future roles within your profession, branch or trade but not currently your primary role or promotion board requirement.

6

Cover of short-term gap

Contained within student justification. Line Manager agreement (OF3/C2). Evidence required: Not your primary role but fulfilling an additional requirement due to gapped post.

7

Other reason

Contained within student justification. Line Manager agreement (SNCO). Reason for application (Eg; professional development, interest, future planning).

*Notes for Unit justification:

  1. OF3/C2 contact and detail outlining the situation with numbers of posts, filled/gapped and how many of the filled ones are not yet qualified.
  2. Extracts of Customer Executive Board (including working groups) records of decision.
  3. Extracts from the commander's risk assessment or self-assessment report, or other formal staff product which notes the risk (Risk Register, etc).

Before you attend

  • defence capability framework
  • the role and responsibilities of the trainer supervisor
  • assessing
  • constructive feedback
  • coaching
  • mentoring
  • induction processes
  • critical analysis and reflection
  • continual professional development (CPD)

Additional information

How the course will be taught

  • Face-to-face/Residential
  • Blended
  • Online (Virtual)

How you will be assessed

Practical summative assessment.

Planned dates