RAF Regiment Info

[alfred_the_great]

All,

I'm after some info on the Regiment, and having searched the RAF web-site, forums and google have had no real luck.

Specifically, I'd like to know the following:

Details of trade training for both Officers and Gunners
How the squadrons are tasked - by the Regt CO, ACC or some-one else?
Who does the Regt CO report to whilst on Ops (i.e. what is his CofC)?
Is there a "Head of the RAF Regiment", and what role (if any) does he or she have over the operational use/tasking of the Regiment?
What is the highest rank a Regt Officer can reach, and how many do so?


I don't anticipate any OPSEC issues here, however please let me know if I'm wrong. Would appreciate a fair level of detail, so please PM if you feel that to be more appropriate.

I'm not looking to join the Regiment, nor do I want to start a thread that quickly devolves into either Regiment bashing or (pointless) comparisons to other units within the UK Armed Forces. I'm not a walt or a journo, it's just intellectual curiosity!

VMT

Al

[Pontius Navigator]

Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Regiment

and then possibly refine the question.

[alfred_the_great]

Refined

Without wishing to be a smart arse, already looked at that, and it doesn't provide answers to Q 2 - 5, and only limited detail on Q1.....

[Rocket Chucker]

Go here:

http://www.e-goat.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20

quite a few serving gunners on it who may answer your questions - although prepare for a bit of baiting as well - it goes with the territory but don't bite back you'll get flamed.

RC

[alfred_the_great]

Cheers

Joined e-goat, and will post same Q there. Any further info from this forum will still be appreciated.

[Grimweasel]

Not a rock but work at 'Rock HQ' in the depths of suffolk, so if you need details send me a PM and I may be able to help and even point you to some of the right people on the RRPT etc (Regt Recruiting Team)

A few easy open source answers are given here:

1. RAF Force Protection is divided into 6 FP Wings around the country with the Stn Cdr at Rock HQ acting as the 'Force Cdr'
They are controlled thru Strike Cmd at CHQ, High Wycombe.(inc the Jt CBRN Regt also based at secret Suffolk HQ!)
2. Trade Trg is too vast to explain here needless to say, they are a very professional bunch who are highly respected by the likes of the Secret Squirrels!
3. Head of RAF FP is an Air Cdre (1star) who is also head of the police. Usually an ex-Stn Cdr at Honington in later career.
4. Not sure if they go higher than 1 Star. Well respected by forces all over the world and although given 'stick' all thru the RAF, are highly respected by aircrew et al for the vital role they perform in defending the Ground Defence Area (footprint around an airfield)

Any other Q's send me a PM

PS I always tell them in the Mess that the RAF Regt is full of people who were too scared to join the army and ended up in the RAF's infantry. Goes down a treat

[Pontius Navigator]

PS I always tell them in the Mess that the RAF Regt is full of people who were too scared to join the army and ended up in the RAF's infantry. Goes down a treat

and still alive to tell the tale!

[diginagain]

Just don't tell anyone you want to join the SF 'Big Four'; Para, RM, SAS and RAF Regt.

[timex]

Never heard of the "Big Four".....Is that a RAF Regt thing?

[Wader2]

Just don't tell anyone you want to join the SF 'Big Four'; Para, RM, SAS and RAF Regt

Daughter was a member of one of the big four . Actually what they did, which was training to operate in the porous friendly rear areas, certainly had elements of SF. Indeed they were given training by 21 SAS.

When on exercise in the States the Reservists they were working with could not get their heads around the Regiment role and thought of them as SF. They certainly could not understand the authority weilded by an SAC.

Also on one exercise in UK they cleared out an unmanned but otherwise active SAS hide much to the embarassment of the SAS.

[The Burning Bush]

Originally Posted by Grimweasel

PS I always tell them in the Mess that the RAF Regt is full of people who were too scared to join the army and ended up in the RAF's infantry. Goes down a treat

More like intelligent enough not to join the Army.
I must keep an eye out for you in the Mess.
Seriously though, not a bad post. The only thing I can add is we have had a 2 star, recently retired, and have several 1 stars on the up. So who knows.
OP, if you need some specific questions answered, send me a PM.

[airborne_artist]

SF 'Big Four'; Para, RM, SAS and RAF Regt.

Not wishing to belittle others, but D SF only covers 21/22/23, 18 Sigs and 63 Sigs, SBS, SRR and SFSG. SFSG is based on the former 14 Int Coy drawing from all Services. RAFR, mainstream RM and Para are not SF, by any stretch.

[TMJ]

Originally Posted by Grimweasel

Not a rock but work at 'Rock HQ' in the depths of suffolk, so if you need details send me a PM and I may be able to help and even point you to some of the right people on the RRPT etc (Regt Recruiting Team)

A few easy open source answers are given here:
<snip>
2. Trade Trg is too vast to explain here needless to say, they are a very professional bunch who are highly respected by the likes of the Secret Squirrels!

Having done a tour at the Rockery, I can say JROC* must be fairly tough given the number of CROWs** littering the place. A US exchange officer who went through JROC before taking his exchange post told me it was tougher than the US Ranger School.

* Junior Regiment Officers' Cse, one of the most apt abbrvs going
** Crippled Regiment Officer Wannabe

3. Head of RAF FP is an Air Cdre (1star) who is also head of the police. Usually an ex-Stn Cdr at Honington in later career.

4. Not sure if they go higher than 1 Star. Well respected by forces all over the world and although given 'stick' all thru the RAF, are highly respected by aircrew et al for the vital role they perform in defending the Ground Defence Area (footprint around an airfield)

When I was posted into the Depot the Commandant General of the Regiment was an Engineer, much to the disgruntlement of many Rocks. I think he still wears mudguards. The Rocks have become masters at getting their foot in the door in lots of Ops Spt (Any) and Any Branch jobs, so I wouldn't be surprised if they can go higher.

[claude liardet]

Alfred,

Check your PMs.

[BluntedAtBirth]

Slip of the keyboard AA? SRR were '14 Int' and JSFSG our very own 'Rangers' based on 1 PARA with RM and RAF Regt elemts, according to open MOD sources .

[airborne_artist]

Slip of the keyboard AA?

Yes, BaB, I should have gone to bed last night....SSR is ex 14 Int Coy, and SFSG is formed by elements of RM, Para and RAFR

[TMJ]

Originally Posted by airborne_artist

Yes, BaB, I should have gone to bed last night....SSR is ex 14 Int Coy, and SFSG is formed by elements of RM, Para and RAFR

We've got reservists in SFSG?




Note to original poster: the Rocks are always abbrv'd to RAF Regt, as RAFR is already taken by the Royal Air Force Reserve.

[Grimweasel]

Burning Bush...
I take it that your Mrs is a red head then???
I'll look out for u in the Bar then? Not that I'll be at the 65th anniversary dinner on Thurs 1 Feb as I am mudguardless!!

[The Helpful Stacker]

Apparently when the RAF Regt aren't too busy popping around to J1 village for another Subway in their very shiny WiMK's or sat around the back of their tents topping up their tans they actually provide airfield defence (or Short Range Desert Group as its known in proper infantry circles), although they have a slightly more dubious link to actual aviation than even my beloved trade.

[The Burning Bush]

Originally Posted by Grimweasel

Burning Bush...
I take it that your Mrs is a red head then???

I take it you didn't go to Sunday School then.