The Royal Air Force Regiment, which provides protection to Armed Forces personnel and air assets in Afghanistan, is to be expanded, with the formation of a new Field Squadron and Force Protection Wing Headquarters later this year.
Armed Forces’ Minister Bill Rammell MP announced the move to Parliament today, by laying a Written Ministerial Statement in the House of Commons.
The new Field Squadron will be based at either RAF Leuchars in Fife or RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and a study is currently under way to determine which of the two stations is most suitable to host the new squadron when it is formed in October 2009. The location of the Force Protection Wing Headquarters will also be decided shortly.
The new unit is expected to be deployed to Afghanistan, as part of Operation HERRICK, in April 2011.
Recruitment and training for the additional 184 personnel needed has already begun. The move will bring the total number of Field Squadrons and Headquarters to 10, increasing the time that Regiment Gunners are able to spend at home in between overseas tours.
The expansion has been made possible by the RAF Regiment’s improved recruitment and retention performance. Commanders believe the excellent job carried out by RAF Regiment personnel in Iraq during Operation TELIC helped Showcase its unique and crucial role, and raised its profile in the public eye.
The RAF Regiment’s role is to protect deployed air bases, keeping personnel, equipment and infrastructure, and particularly aircraft approaching and leaving bases, safe from ground based threats. In Afghanistan, the Regiment protects airfields at Kandahar and Bastion, while in Iraq it has recently completed six years safeguarding the airfield at Basra International Airport.
Armed Forces Minister, Bill Rammell MP, said:
“The RAF Regiment provides essential protection to our air assets and armed forces serving on operations in Afghanistan. They are specialists in their role, and their work is vital in enabling air operations to continue despite hostile action.
“It is fantastic news that we are now in a position to be able to expand the RAF Regiment, ensuring the force structure is sufficient to sustain the expected high operational tempo without placing excessive demands on existing personnel.”
Group Captain Nick Bray, RAF Regiment Force Commander and Station Commander of RAF Honington, added:
“These measures are a welcome enhancement to our capability, and are a recognition of the crucial role played by the RAF Regiment on operations. I fully expect today’s news to have a positive effect on morale and retention, and I hope it persuades more young men to consider the benefits of a career with us.”
Source: Ministry of Defence
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