Defence School of Transport
The Defence School of Transport (DST), based at Normandy Barracks, Leconfield, East Yorkshire, was formed in 1996 as the Centre of Excellence for providing driver and transport management training to personnel from the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines.
Military Driver Training Squadron (MDTS)
The main effort for MDTS is the delivery of military driver training for trainees undertaking Initial Trade Training and Subsequent Trade Training on military wheeled platforms such as conversion to Landrover, MAN Support Vehicles (6T and 9T) and EPLS. All training is delivered by civilian driving instructors.
MDTS Combat Troop, consists of Tri-Service military personnel from multiple cap badge’s. The Troop is responsible for the delivery of the new Part 3 Course in line with the new Combat Logistician syllabus for all cap badges. The training incorporates convoy driving, on and off road, night driving and tactical training.
Additionally, MDTS delivers bespoke training packages for Troop Commanders preparing to take up their new assignments within the Field Army.
Driver Training Squadron (DTS)
DTS provide the foundations and progressive Licence Acquisition (LA) training inclusive of theory training across the most common licence categories (Cat B, C, C+E, D and D1).
Contractor Driver Training (CDT): In addition, CDT is also centrally controlled and managed from this location to DST North (Leconfield and Catterick) and South (Minley, Sandhurst, Blandford, Lyneham, Southwick Park, Larkhill, Middle Wallop, Worthy Down, Bovington and Lympstone) satellite locations via DST management staff at each site.
Providing CDT to vocational and non-vocational drivers to a variety of cap badges. This is purely Licence Acquisition on Cat B to C+E in contractor vehicles and does not include Service Driver Conversion onto Military equivalent assets, this will be conducted either at Unit level or through MDTS at DST.
Specialist Transport & Management Squadron
Specialist Transport & Management Squadron deliver a wide range of specialist operator, instructor and Mechanical Transport (MT) Management courses to all branches of Defence with students ranging from junior soldiers to senior officers:
Specialist vehicle operator and instructor courses include;
- BV 206
- Blue Light Training
- Civilian Armoured Vehicle
- Staff Car
- Variety of MHE courses (inclusive of Rough Terrain Container Handler (RTCH)
- Defence Attaché
- Quad bike
- Support Tanker (Water/Fuel)
- Enhanced Platform Loading Systems (EPLS)
- Royal Marines (RM) Driver Class 1 & 2
Management courses cover 22 individual course types which are predominantly fixed length, classroom based, with delivery focused on policy, legislation, MT accounting, ADR and HAZMAT. It conducts promotion and high demand courses such as Driver trade Class 2 to Class 1 Upgrading, Defence Transport Officer and Manager, Defence Driving Examiners and Defence General Service Driver Conversion Instructor. It also includes specific courses for RLC Transport Specialists, Master Drivers and a phase of the Troop Commanders course.
Communication Information Systems (CIS) Squadron
The small and technically proficient team within CIS Sqn are responsible for the delivery of quality training and advice to all Regular and Reserve Combat Service Support Arms. The courses delivered range from the Communications Operator Class 3, through to the Regimental Signals Officer course; capturing students from Private to Captain.
About
The Defence School of Transport (DST) was formed in 1996 as the ‘Centre of Excellence’ for driver training for personnel from the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. The school provides over 94 different course types to over 10,000 trainees from all three Services and to personnel from other Government departments.
This size of operation makes DST the largest residential driver training school in the World. In addition to core training of military personnel, DST provides support to current ops worldwide.
Driver training vehicles from the Defence School of Transport cover approximately 4.75 million miles per year. This training commitment is delivered by an establishment of 173 military and 546 civilian permanent staff.
DST also has 10 satellite locations in the UK providing car licence acquisition.
How to find us
By car:
The postcode for satnav users (which should not be solely relied upon) is HU17 7LX. DST is signposted Normandy Barracks and is located 3 miles north of Beverley on the A164.
Bus:
There is a station in Beverley, bus number 121 passes Leconfield.
Rail:
There is a station in Beverley that is accessible via Doncaster and Hull.
The Defence School of Transport
Normandy Barracks
Leconfield
East Yorkshire
HU17 7LX
Welfare Support
As a Defence School, DST has a range of Arms and Cap Badges who may require some form of Welfare Support. DST has an obligation to support welfare to all training personnel from Initial Trade Training (ITT) and Subsequent Trade Training (STT), military and civil service, as well as the enablers, Permanent Staff and their dependants.
To enable this diverse support, the Welfare Team, headed up by the Unit Welfare Officer, comprises of a number of supporting agencies, the Student Focus Team, the Padre, WRVS, HIVE, AWS and SSAFA to name a few. Each supporting agency has received a unique level of training and they ensure that each individual receives the appropriate level of information, comfort and support; all within the code of confidentiality.
Medical facilities
DST’s Medical and Dental Centres are run by dedicated medical staff and have all the facilities you would expect to find in an NHS medical centre or dental practice.
These facilities are available to all military staff.
Sports facilities
The gymnasium and Multi Activity Sports Hall (MASH) are available to staff and students at DST. The gymnasium has a wide range of free weights and resistance machines and extensive selection of modern equipment to aid cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. The gymnasium also accommodates two squash courts.
Staff and Students have the opportunity to take part in the sports clubs below:
| Basketball | Cross-Country | Cricket |
| Rugby | Football | Hockey |
| Athletics | Golf | Boxing |
| Squash | Cycling | Triathlon |
| Netball | Swimming | Enduro (motor bike) |
| Mountain Biking | Sub Aqua diving | Skiing |
| Mountaineering | Parachuting |
Orienteering |
A number sports pitches and tennis courts and a Trim Trail are also available.
Education facilities
DST has its own staff training team who deliver a wide range of training on site from DIT and DIME to a three-day FAW and Defibulator training to both Military and Civilian Staff. Student development is aided by Deflog Trust who assists in student education and the provision of Modern Apprenticeships (driving)
Free access to the Internet is widely available across DST.
Shopping & Leisure
There is a Londis store within Normandy Barracks for your everyday essentials. Tesco, Asda and Morrison’s stores are located in the market town of Beverley just two miles away.
In addition to the ‘Pay as you dine’ facilities, DST offers a wide range of food outlets throughout the site; you can take advantage of the Costa Coffee and Subway outlets or Bar 202 in the evening. The HUB is also available; there you will find a variety of entertainment, such as a cinema and games room and an internet facility.
Laundrette: The laundrette is open from 0700 – 2200 hrs daily
