INTERNSHIP

Given the requirements for interoperability, internationalization is paramount importance and must be considered a conditio sine qua non.

This is why the Theresan Military Academy has designed the International Training on the Job. It lasts six weeks and integrates Austrian officer cadets into a unit abroad.

The ITJ forms an integral part of officer training.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ITJ

In particular ITJ aims at acquiring the following competences and skills:
- enhancing knowledge and improving skills for professional excellence in the branch chosen,
- gaining critical understanding of other militaries and cultures,
- taking over responsibility for own decisions,
- reflecting own competences and skills and building confidence in the quality of own training,
- familiarising with branches in an international context
- comparing national military assets and abilities to those of foreign militaries and
- personality-forming, especially development of intercultural awareness.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A HOST UNIT

All planning activities are geared to providing high-quality vacancies for trainees. In this respect the host units are selected in accordance with the following criteria:
- operational experience
- availability of troops
- special training (FTXs, live firing, etc.)
- readiness to yield responsibility to officer cadets for the sake of instilling confidence into them.

ITJ VARIANTS

The ITJ can be conducted by way of:
1. integration into training within a unit abroad,
2. participation in a course of an institution abroad,
3. a combination of the above.

OFFICIALS INVOLVED

The following persons are stakeholders in the ITJ:
- The head of the international office
- The liaison officer to the host unit
- The POC of the host unit
- The coaching officer of the host unit