Razor61
2nd Apr 2005, 02:09
Published Friday 1st April 2005 (mod news)
Iraqi Directorate of Border Enforcement training at Basrah Air Station, overseen by Royal Air Force Police and Royal Air Force Regiment personnel. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]
No. 2 FP Wing oversee the training of members of the Iraqi Police Service. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]
Members of the RAF Force Protection Wing talk to local children at the control of entry to Basrah Air Station. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]
An Army Sniffer dog and his handler search a vehicle at the main entrance to Basrah Air Station. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]Personnel from a North Yorkshire RAF base currently serving in Iraq are spearheading a groundbreaking new approach to the RAF’s force protection role on deployed operations.
Around 150 personnel from RAF Leeming’s No. 2 RAF Force Protection (FP) Wing who are deployed at Basra Air Station in the south of Iraq, are the first of four newly created force protection wings to deploy on operations since the concept was introduced in 2004.
The Force Protection Wing 'concept' comprises a headquarters element, an RAF Regiment Squadron, two Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons, RAF Police and a small number of Army support personnel.
Tasked with ensuring the continued military and civilian air and land operations at Basra Airport, RAF Leeming’s Wing Commander Stu Bradnam, the man in charge of No. 2 FP Wing, explained how it all works:
"When we deployed here nearly two months ago the Wing Headquarters deployed along with No. 34 Sqn RAF Regiment from RAF Leeming. Once we arrived out here we assumed responsibility for the Force Protection role but that involved bringing other assets under our command and control to do that.
"These include Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel from No. 609 (West Riding) and No. 2503 (City of Lincoln) Squadrons and an almost 40-strong RAF Police Flight, as well as a number of army personnel.
"The Wing concept has enabled us to train together back at home before we came here so the Headquarters, No. 34 Sqn RAF Regiment and the auxiliaries that I’ve got who came out as part of the Wing, it meant that that we could all train together before we got here.
"We know each other, we’ve worked together before so that when we arrive in an operational theatre such as Iraq we’re not meeting for the first time."
No. 2 FP Wing’s role is varied. It includes conducting routine patrols, training the Iraqi Police Force, responsibility for the movement of people and traffic in and out of Basra Airport as well as dealing with the numerous contractors who now reside on the Airport site.
The training role involves equipping members of the Iraqi Police Service with the skills to enable them to take over their own security at Basra Airport. A dedicated team of six RAF personnel makes up the Directorate of Border Enforcement Training Team. Helping to train around 250 Iraqi police, they believe they are making real progress.
"We’re the second team that’s been out here," explained Warrant Officer Tam McBride. "The first team trained them in basic security skills and basic policing skills and we’ve continued this by giving them further skills that they require to work in the airport alongside the British.
"We conduct continuation training, which is what we’re doing at the moment. They’re all enthusiastic and really keen to get as much information and knowledge from us because they really do want to take part and look after their own airport."
With nearly 3,000 local employees and contractors passing through the airport’s vehicle checkpoint each day, it’s absolutely vital that they see Iraqis running their own security.
Senior Iraqi police officer, Colonel Imad Abass, Commander for the Directorate of Border Enforcement at Basra International Airport, agrees:
"It is very good for local people to see Iraqi police occupying the entrance of the airport, organising and controlling things by themselves. It is very good for us and the Iraqi people."
During the last twelve months there has been a marked increase in the amount of contractors operating on the site at Basra Airport. Sqn Ldr Shaun Ryles, Deputy Officer Commanding No. 2 FP Wing, is responsible for looking after their needs:
“The main thing with the contractors is to make sure everything that we do with force protection, on and off base, is not affected negatively by whatever the contractors do. The fact that they have to operate here is a given and we need to make sure that whatever they do in terms of bringing people on or bringing vehicles and equipment through our gate doesn’t undermine the force protection stance that we are trying to achieve here.”
“We’re dealing with such a high volume of people and vehicles, the nature of that coupled with the several thousand military people we have here, creates a village. Like any village we have the day to day issues, a lot of people living in close proximity to each other all striving to achieve the same common goal but with limited resources.”
Sqn Ldr Ryles recognises the difficulties associated with having such a large number of contractors at Basra:
“The key to managing the contractors is to identify them when they first arrive and get their consent to work within the parameters that we lay down for them. Once we’ve achieved that, we keep an eye on the changeover of key people and make sure there is a corporate knowledge passed on between key players. In Iraq, particularly with the security situation, we need to have that constant dialogue.”
He sees real progress from the last time he was in Iraq twelve months ago:
“The satisfying thing about this tour is that a lot of the work we set in train last year has come to fruition. Many of the plans and procedures we designed when we first came here have obviously been developed.
“We’re now in a position to go that stage further, confident that we can influence this, not only for Iraq, but for other future theatres of operation when we might also work with contractors.”
Wing Commander Bradnam believes the personnel under his command have responded well as they attempt to get Iraq back on its feet.
“The big challenge as far as the airport is concerned is that we try and move to a situation where we can start to hand facilities back to the Iraqis.
“We must make sure that the 650 locally employed civilians and 2,000 contractors who come onto the base on a daily basis can come and go from the base safely and securely and that they’re actually searched and checked and processed. This means that all the military personnel here are afforded the same levels of security as well.
“Obviously people arriving at the main gate could be turning up from anywhere so we’ve had to develop a very complex passes and permits system and orchestrate a whole new searching regime. It causes some frustrations for them but I think they understand that if they’re safe and secure on the base, then it’s worth going through the pain to get there.”
“I think the work we’re doing here is viewed very favourably, especially down in this part of Iraq. For example, in January we arranged here at the airport to get some 5,000 pilgrims out from Basra into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. It was an RAF Force Protection lead and it’s a classic example of how the locals were extremely grateful for the ability to do something they would otherwise never have had the opportunity to do if we hadn’t been here to facilitate that journey for them.”
So, although many challenges still lie ahead, the personnel of RAF Leeming’s No.2 FP Wing will continue doing all they can to improve the lives of the Iraqi people.
The RAF Regiment
The RAF Regiment was formed during the Second World War, to enable the RAF to have the capability of defending its airfields and assets against ground attack. The RAF Regiment is divided into two specific roles, Field and Rapier Squadrons. Rapier squadrons man the RAF's Surface to Air missile systems, while the field squadrons are effectively air aware infantry squadrons. No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment is a field squadron. This part of the RAF is not widely known among the general public as it is 'assumed' that the RAF’s Force Protection is carried out by the British Army; this is not the case. No. 34 Squadron’s role in Iraq is to provide force protection at Basra International Airport, ensuring that all military aircraft and assets are defended from any form of attack.
Iraqi Directorate of Border Enforcement training at Basrah Air Station, overseen by Royal Air Force Police and Royal Air Force Regiment personnel. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]
No. 2 FP Wing oversee the training of members of the Iraqi Police Service. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]
Members of the RAF Force Protection Wing talk to local children at the control of entry to Basrah Air Station. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]
An Army Sniffer dog and his handler search a vehicle at the main entrance to Basrah Air Station. [Phot: Corporal Heidi Cox RAF. Crown Copyright 2005]Personnel from a North Yorkshire RAF base currently serving in Iraq are spearheading a groundbreaking new approach to the RAF’s force protection role on deployed operations.
Around 150 personnel from RAF Leeming’s No. 2 RAF Force Protection (FP) Wing who are deployed at Basra Air Station in the south of Iraq, are the first of four newly created force protection wings to deploy on operations since the concept was introduced in 2004.
The Force Protection Wing 'concept' comprises a headquarters element, an RAF Regiment Squadron, two Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons, RAF Police and a small number of Army support personnel.
Tasked with ensuring the continued military and civilian air and land operations at Basra Airport, RAF Leeming’s Wing Commander Stu Bradnam, the man in charge of No. 2 FP Wing, explained how it all works:
"When we deployed here nearly two months ago the Wing Headquarters deployed along with No. 34 Sqn RAF Regiment from RAF Leeming. Once we arrived out here we assumed responsibility for the Force Protection role but that involved bringing other assets under our command and control to do that.
"These include Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel from No. 609 (West Riding) and No. 2503 (City of Lincoln) Squadrons and an almost 40-strong RAF Police Flight, as well as a number of army personnel.
"The Wing concept has enabled us to train together back at home before we came here so the Headquarters, No. 34 Sqn RAF Regiment and the auxiliaries that I’ve got who came out as part of the Wing, it meant that that we could all train together before we got here.
"We know each other, we’ve worked together before so that when we arrive in an operational theatre such as Iraq we’re not meeting for the first time."
No. 2 FP Wing’s role is varied. It includes conducting routine patrols, training the Iraqi Police Force, responsibility for the movement of people and traffic in and out of Basra Airport as well as dealing with the numerous contractors who now reside on the Airport site.
The training role involves equipping members of the Iraqi Police Service with the skills to enable them to take over their own security at Basra Airport. A dedicated team of six RAF personnel makes up the Directorate of Border Enforcement Training Team. Helping to train around 250 Iraqi police, they believe they are making real progress.
"We’re the second team that’s been out here," explained Warrant Officer Tam McBride. "The first team trained them in basic security skills and basic policing skills and we’ve continued this by giving them further skills that they require to work in the airport alongside the British.
"We conduct continuation training, which is what we’re doing at the moment. They’re all enthusiastic and really keen to get as much information and knowledge from us because they really do want to take part and look after their own airport."
With nearly 3,000 local employees and contractors passing through the airport’s vehicle checkpoint each day, it’s absolutely vital that they see Iraqis running their own security.
Senior Iraqi police officer, Colonel Imad Abass, Commander for the Directorate of Border Enforcement at Basra International Airport, agrees:
"It is very good for local people to see Iraqi police occupying the entrance of the airport, organising and controlling things by themselves. It is very good for us and the Iraqi people."
During the last twelve months there has been a marked increase in the amount of contractors operating on the site at Basra Airport. Sqn Ldr Shaun Ryles, Deputy Officer Commanding No. 2 FP Wing, is responsible for looking after their needs:
“The main thing with the contractors is to make sure everything that we do with force protection, on and off base, is not affected negatively by whatever the contractors do. The fact that they have to operate here is a given and we need to make sure that whatever they do in terms of bringing people on or bringing vehicles and equipment through our gate doesn’t undermine the force protection stance that we are trying to achieve here.”
“We’re dealing with such a high volume of people and vehicles, the nature of that coupled with the several thousand military people we have here, creates a village. Like any village we have the day to day issues, a lot of people living in close proximity to each other all striving to achieve the same common goal but with limited resources.”
Sqn Ldr Ryles recognises the difficulties associated with having such a large number of contractors at Basra:
“The key to managing the contractors is to identify them when they first arrive and get their consent to work within the parameters that we lay down for them. Once we’ve achieved that, we keep an eye on the changeover of key people and make sure there is a corporate knowledge passed on between key players. In Iraq, particularly with the security situation, we need to have that constant dialogue.”
He sees real progress from the last time he was in Iraq twelve months ago:
“The satisfying thing about this tour is that a lot of the work we set in train last year has come to fruition. Many of the plans and procedures we designed when we first came here have obviously been developed.
“We’re now in a position to go that stage further, confident that we can influence this, not only for Iraq, but for other future theatres of operation when we might also work with contractors.”
Wing Commander Bradnam believes the personnel under his command have responded well as they attempt to get Iraq back on its feet.
“The big challenge as far as the airport is concerned is that we try and move to a situation where we can start to hand facilities back to the Iraqis.
“We must make sure that the 650 locally employed civilians and 2,000 contractors who come onto the base on a daily basis can come and go from the base safely and securely and that they’re actually searched and checked and processed. This means that all the military personnel here are afforded the same levels of security as well.
“Obviously people arriving at the main gate could be turning up from anywhere so we’ve had to develop a very complex passes and permits system and orchestrate a whole new searching regime. It causes some frustrations for them but I think they understand that if they’re safe and secure on the base, then it’s worth going through the pain to get there.”
“I think the work we’re doing here is viewed very favourably, especially down in this part of Iraq. For example, in January we arranged here at the airport to get some 5,000 pilgrims out from Basra into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. It was an RAF Force Protection lead and it’s a classic example of how the locals were extremely grateful for the ability to do something they would otherwise never have had the opportunity to do if we hadn’t been here to facilitate that journey for them.”
So, although many challenges still lie ahead, the personnel of RAF Leeming’s No.2 FP Wing will continue doing all they can to improve the lives of the Iraqi people.
The RAF Regiment
The RAF Regiment was formed during the Second World War, to enable the RAF to have the capability of defending its airfields and assets against ground attack. The RAF Regiment is divided into two specific roles, Field and Rapier Squadrons. Rapier squadrons man the RAF's Surface to Air missile systems, while the field squadrons are effectively air aware infantry squadrons. No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment is a field squadron. This part of the RAF is not widely known among the general public as it is 'assumed' that the RAF’s Force Protection is carried out by the British Army; this is not the case. No. 34 Squadron’s role in Iraq is to provide force protection at Basra International Airport, ensuring that all military aircraft and assets are defended from any form of attack.