Under the newly designed SGT(A) Promotion Course, all candidates have to be recommended by their District Commanders. After nominations, the Force Selection Board will conduct a preliminary assessment to identify qualified candidates for the Functional Leadership Test. Finally, each candidate has to attend an interview by the board, and those who pass the interview will take the promotion course.

The promotion course coordinator, Chief Inspector (TRG AUX SUP) Lo Kam-tim said the nature of a candidate's work would change after promotion. Besides daily police work, a sergeant has to take up the role of a supervisor to manage frontline officers and give them guidance in tackling problems. "Therefore, a practical sergeant promotion course is very useful to those who are newly promoted. This ensures that they will be well equipped with the knowledge, skills and professional ability necessary for the new work ahead," he added.

As pointed out by the training officer Mr Ng Hon-wah, the six-week SGT(A) Promotion Course, which has been suspended for seven years since 1997, ran for 76 hours from March 29 to May 14 this year. It differs in some ways from the previous ones, with the introduction of training on team-building, coaching development and "Emotional Intelligence", on top of a general review on ordinances, leadership and the work of a sergeant, discipline training and presentation skill. The main objective of the training is to encourage more active participation and discussion in classrooms.

The course also includes two full days outdoor leadership training in the urban and rural areas for candidates to apply all the skills they have learned from the course, including planning, observation, deployment and operational procedures, etc.

SGT(A) Cheung Kin-hung has found the course very practical, and is grateful to Training Section instructors for their dedication, which, he said, had enhanced his knowledge of police work and basic leadership skills. He pointed out that he would be more capable of taking up challenges with confidence, courage and stronger will, and making contributions to the Force.

WSGT(A) Sung Deng-chi recalled that she had applied what she had acquired from the course in a case of attempted suicide on the very first day she resumed duty after graduation. She had used her newly acquired skills to comfort the person involved, before the Force Negotiator arrived at the scene. Eventually she managed to talk the person out of committing suicide.

Most of the participants of the promotion course agree that it is essential for a newly promoted SGT(A) to attend a professional and practical course, pointing out that the Auxiliary Support Bureau had fully reflected their professionalism by offering the tailor-made course.

New elements have been introduced for the SGT (A) promotion course