The Defence Fire Training and Development Centre(MOD DFTDC), Manston lies in Kent on the site of the former RAF base at Manston on the Isle of Thanet. Fire-fighter training has been conducted at Manston since 1959. In 1989 the RAF Fire Fighting and Rescue Squadron moved from RAF Catterick to RAF Manston to join the Air Force Department Fire Service and form the RAF Fire Services CTE.
In 1995 the school became the MOD FSCTE Manston which in turn has now become DFTDC in 2008 after a change in governance. DFTDC mirrors a small RAF station with an Admin Support Flight, MT, MTSS and Logistics Support Flight. In all, nearly 20 trade groups are represented. A Wing Commander commands the unit while all the instructors are either RAF or Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DF&RS) personnel. The role of DFTDC is to undertake the formal training of MOD firefighters from all 3 services including contract fire services working for the Ministry of Defence in aircraft crash and structural firefighting. This includes associated specialist equipment, career training and trials of new equipment.
 |
Contact Details
DFTDC
Manston
Ramsgate
Kent
CT12 5BS
Phone: 01843 823351
Fax: 01843 823382
Email: ci@dftdc.org |