The RAF teaches close formation first - to develop flying skills and the essential discipline necessary for safe formation flight.
Only much later is 'tactical' or 'loose' formation taught as it is far more hazardous for the unwary.
A few good RFs/FTOs teach formation - we run a course which used to culminate in 4 a/c close formation. (We sold one ac, so now we can't!). Of interest is that most non-military pilots are hopeless when it comes to RT discipline, check-in times, listening to the brief etc.....
And it is NOT as simple as it looks!