| Welcome to the web site of the MOD Defence Fire Training and Development Centre (DFTDC) at Manston which is situated in Kent close to the town of Ramsgate.
Within this site you will find a variety of information relating to our many activities and it should provide you with a good overview of our training courses, facilities and supporting infrastructure. By popular demand we have also included details of the various training airframes that we hold which are of particular interest to the aviation ‘spotter’ community. Regrettably these airframes are not routinely available for public viewing, although we will endeavour to satisfy occasional requests from small groups of genuine enthusiasts. The site at Manston is an historic one with its origins in the formation of a Royal Naval Air Station during 1916, followed by transformation into RAF Manston two years later. You can read more about the history of RAF Manston elsewhere in this site. Following the end of the Cold War and the subsequent RAF withdrawal from Germany, Manston became surplus to RAF requirements and the airfield was sold in 1999 to become today’s Kent International Airport. However, DFTDC was retained under its previous name of Fire Services Central Training Establishment (FSCTE) becoming an enclave set within the former RAF Manston domestic site. Ownership of DFTDC was originally vested in HQ Strike Command at RAF High Wycombe, although this changed in April 2007 when the Army assumed responsibility for the delivery of firefighting services throughout the MOD estate. In turn, DFTDC is now governed by HQ LAND Command at Wilton, through the newly created Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) at Andover, with regional control vested in HQ 2 Brigade at Shorncliffe Barracks, Folkestone. Governance changes aside, Firefighter training has been carried out at Manston in various forms since 1958 and we are extremely proud of the excellent reputation that the school enjoys both home and overseas. Many of our training facilities are available for lease under the ‘Commercial Activities’ initiative and you will find the relevant contact details within this site should you or your organisation be interested in applying. The Commandant, MOD DFTDC |
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