Non-UK citizen and RAF
 

Fellow PPRuNers

Quick question that someone out in PPRuNe land may be able to help with. I have recently had a former USAF colleague (who I worked with on exchange) contact me out of the blue to ask if it is possible for former USAF personnel without the requisite citizenship to apply to the RAF. While my initial response was a resounding no he is adamant that there has been a precedence set in the not too distant past. Unfortunately he has no more detail other than it was definitely USAF (i.e. not commonwealth) and that they were not dual nationality or parent born here etc etc. So before I destroy his dream of joining the premier Air Force has anyone ever heard of a non-UK/Commonwealth citizen being allowed to join in the last decade or so?

A quick search on the RAF site comes up with the answer!! (Didn't take much effort to do).

https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/h...lity-residency

Read the question carefully and you might see that it is asking if anyone has heard of such a thing - not what the bumf actually says. There have been several instances I have come across in my career when precedences have been set despite what the 'policy' stated. A simple No would suffice if you wish to be helpful:rolleyes:

Yes I have heard of one ex-USAF aircrew who is now RAF. I don't want to give details on this open forum, also because I don't know the situation (if dual citizenship or marriage was involved e.g.), but yes I think it has been done.

Thank God they didn't do fitness checks when I joined.

US - a commonwealth citizen then :)

Tedderboy, can you give us a clue why the RAF would want him? Say current pilot on US type in RAF inventory? IP on FJ?

Not commonwealth - a colonial...

:)

PDR

Tedderboy - Pontius Navigator and SwitchMonkey have hit on the correct elements utilised by Manning (and Cranwell) to recruit from outside of the Commonwealth. There was a former USAF exchange officer aircrew commissioned into the RAF in 2006 (and he is still serving) on the basis that he was in the UK, a current instructor on an RAF type and was "able to obtain" UK citizenship. Manning was willing to waive the standard nationality requirements, as he filled an aircrew position that was in very short supply and on the condition he commence the naturalisation process. It's worth noting he (rightly) had to take a reduction in rank and work his way back up with everyone else. Things might have changed significantly since 2006, including UK visa and immigration rules. Even then, it won't be as straightforward in the instance, as the chap in this case appears to not be in the UK.

And speaking of the Irish.... A loong time ago, when I joined as a Boy Entrant, there was a guy in our entry (the 45th.) who was from the Republic of Ireland and his father was a sergeant in the Garda (the Irish police) so yes, it wasn't unheard of. There was also a guy from Kenya and one from Malta but they of course were Commonwealth citizens.

Our AEO in the V-Force was Irish.

There were quite a lot of Irish B/E's and Apps.

They could easily be identified at leave times, they were the ones in civilian clothes!