Royal Canadian Air Force Barker College
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Wing Commander William G. Barker VC Aerospace College (RCAF Barker College) was stood up in 2018 at 17 Wing Winnipeg to meet the professional development needs of Canada’s Air Force through a variety of advanced education and training courses.
To further RCAF aerospace capability development, RCAF Barker College provides Modelling and Simulation and Operational Test and Evaluation courses. To enhance aerospace capability employment, the college teaches Basic and Advanced Electronic Warfare courses, Basic Space Operations and Space Professionals Operations courses, Human Performance in Military Aviation, and the Instrument Check Pilot course.
Many important professional development needs of RCAF junior officers are met through a combination of distance learning and residential courses through the five-part Air Force Officer Development program. Future Commanding Officers and unit Senior Non-Commissioned Members are better prepared for their positions through the RCAF Unit Command Team Orientation Programme, held once per year.
To address the evolution of culture within the RCAF, the Character Application and Transformation course is offered as part of the Air Force Officer Development Block 5 and as its own stand-alone course.
Barker College is home to the Lieutenant-General Lewis Memorial Library, which specializes in subjects related to aerospace warfare and technology and provides a wide range of services to 17 Wing.
The RCAF Barker College also houses a state-of-the-art Simulation Lab complete with two 5 by 12-foot video walls. Barker College continues push new boundaries in Air Force training and education, leading the RCAF into the future. The college also produces the RCAF’s ‘Jumpseat’ podcast.
The college trains approximately 3,000 RCAF personnel annually through virtual and in-person courses.
