Expeditionary Air Wings

[Stitchbitch]

Originally Posted by SirPercyWare-Armitag

This is just another tedious idea proposed by some half wit from staff college aiming for inclusion in the Honours List. The RAF has always been expeditionary in nature; its just that some locations have been more comfortable than others

Do you mean Transport or SH?

[Archimedes]

PN, restored to 'light duties' by order of AOC-in-C Home Command, and likely to be back to full range of taskings within 48 hrs, thanks.

The idea of the EAW has been floating around for some time - at least 3.5 years to my certain knowledge. It didn't originate from the Staff College per se, although I know at least one staff college graduate was involved in putting some of the early ideas down on paper.

[bird99]

Just to set the record straight - with no bias at all. The idea is that when a Stn deploys - like to Kandahar with Harriers - once it is an established det (ie when you have an increasing number of non-Stn personnel supporting - ie after the initial det has settled in) the Det will get its own EAW number. So the NFU non-core-stn (is that a noun...no) personnel become part of the new (9-series) EAW. From what I've seen a group identity for all deployed unit personnel is a good idea - if the DOB Cdr leads from the front and identifies it as such. Otherwise it will, of course, be just a badge. But surely that's what DOB Cdrs (normally aircrew Wg Cdr/Gp Capt) are there to do (no I don't want to start a whole sub-thread on about particular DOB Cdrs). Done well it could be good. Of course, you've got to feel sorry for MAMS/TCW who will have a lot more sewing to do, but if the MT Driver/Chef/Admin Clerk feels they are part of a team - not always the case - then that can only be positive. Downside is much work to make this happen like this - perhaps the advertising of the concept is a bit remiss if this aim is misunderstood. As I said, I remain neutral but would like to see it work so some of the NFU guys feel more included (not because of the badge but because of the concept)...

[ratty1]

Originally Posted by bird99

Otherwise it will, of course, be just a badge.

"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!"

[Pontius Navigator]

Bird could well be right. As base ops in one of the RAF's sunny holiday spots (plenty of sea and little sand) there was no affinity between the here today gone tomorrow fly-boys, even the ones on 3-4 week dets.

True, as real ops officers, we got on with the aircrew but the only cohesion was all in adversity together with one sqn ldr admin to keep the whole running slow.

[South Bound]

B99, I agree this is a good idea for cohesion and giving everyone a feeling of belonging. I just wonder:

1. How it will work in Kandy with 2 EAWs (the 3 squillion people needed to support 4 Harriers and the handful going with the SH) - who will the cooks and the shineys (all warfighters now!) belong to - will they have both badges?

2. Why do we insist on dragging up these hideous numbers from the past? The EAWs of the past were so long forgotten that we could have made a clean start (1,2,3 EAWs anyone?) without risk of disestablishing any wg cdr command postings. Standing by for an 'ethos and history' backlash....

[sooms]

Cynical old me....

Does anyone think this will change anything apart from spending a few thousand on new signs and badges?

It will still be the same people going to the sandpit several times a year (plus other sqn dets) and it will be the same people staying at home doing an OOA every 3 or 4 years and working 8-5 mon-fri and getting every weekend/grant off.

I've seen OOA from a FU and NFU viewpoint (I'm doing both this year) and it will take more than a name and badge. At some locations it's hard to tell if the NFU are supporting the 'warfighters' or vice versa!

[Lima Juliet]

1 into 12 don't go with anything in the RAF!

That advert on the first page:

1 aircraft into 12 tanks with laser guided bombs - are we buying B52s or is it the Vulcan coming back...

...or maybe the enemy will be kind enough to park the tanks on top of each other in stacks of 3 and let Eorofrightner drop an LGB on each of the 4 stacks...gawd help us all

And just when is Brimstone ever going to get the ROE for use...Oh, is that a flying pig

LJ

[pvr not dwr]

Not sure about the rest of you but I'm looking forward to being part of the "101st room expeditionary RAF wing USAF " I might have to apply for an extra chest for all the medals.

I also think we will use only one a/c cos thats all we can get servicable "but we'll get another as soon as we get spares from depth/aldi"

[Bob Viking]

Leon

'1 aircraft to 12 tanks'.
Maybe they were trying to allude to 1 GR4 with 12 Brimstone.
Just an idea!
BV

[HEDP]

BV,

If they were alluding to Brimstone my question remains, has the seeker been changed acording to the graphic? If not then as you say, another cluster of procurement for something that will be lucky to get the ROE to be used!

HEDP

[Grabbers]

So, let me get this straight. All NFU personnel will now feel part of the team because of a bit of semantics. Lets change our name again!Surely, C2, or good C2 at any rate, would already have this perennial issue sorted? Notwithstanding the above and given that their Airships are almost infinite in their wisdom, when do we get our Badgers?

[sooms]

Am I missing something?

Read the glossy STC bulletin today detailing the new eeyores etc...

One would get the impression that the Typhoon Wing at CGY is operational if you didn't know any better.
Can we look forward to them taking over Kandahar or Al Udied soon?

Also, no mention of Jaguar- does this mean that STC no longer consider the Jaguar to be part of the frontline RAF? Or were they in transit from Colt to Cgy when it was printed and should be marked as somewhere off the Wash?

The map of frontline RAF Bases in 2012 makes depressing reading to a old git like me!