PPCLI Battle School The original Regimental Depot was formed in Calgary on 1 June 1953, and assumed the responsibility for receiving, equipping and training men for all battalions of the Regiment. The Regimental Depot was disbanded on 31 October 1968, its function revived in part with the formation of 1 Canadian Brigade Group Operational Training Detachment (OTD) in Wainwright in July 1974. On 1 May 1981 the OTD was officially renamed the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle School. The role of the PPCLI Battle School is to train infantry recruits for the three battalions of the PPCLI and to conduct junior leadership training and specialty courses for 1 Canadian Brigade Group. The Battle School is organized with a headquarters, an orderly room, and a training support organization known as Adminstration Company providing all administrative and logistical support for training. The School consists of two training companies: Recruit Company, which conducts trade level three infantry training, and Leadership Company, which conducts all remaining courses. Leadership Company runs three types of regular force junior leadership couses: a 12 week Infantry Section Commander Course designed for infantrymen; a 10 week Combat Leader Course for Combat Arms personnel such as artillerymen, armoured troops and combat engineers, and; a 7 week Junior Leader Course for combat service support troops in trade specialties ranging from cooks to mechanics. Leadership Company accepts young privates or corporals who have served their battalion or regiment for at least two years, and have demonstrated leadership potential. All three courses are designed to teach skills needed in leadership and supervision in the rank of master corporal. The Rappel Master Course is 2 weeks long and qualifies junior officers and NCOs in the skills needed to dispatch soldiers and equipment from hovering helicopters. The Unarmed Combat Instructor Course, also 2 weeks long, qualifies our section commanders to instruct recruits in this essential skill.