Chief of Air Staff? (CAS)
CAS / Air Cheif Marshal Mike Wigston
Where is Air Command HQ’d?
RAF High Wycombe, Oxfordshire
Name the 6 Groups
1 Group 2 Group 11 Group 22 Group 38 Group 83 Expeditionary Air Group
In reasonable detail, what are 1 Groups’ Roles?
ATTACK
- Coordinates all of the RAF’s frontline, fast-jet force
elements and the Intelligence Surveillance, Targeting
and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) work - QRA
- Continued Air Defence of the Falkland Islands
- Exercising with NATO Partners
- Number 1 Group also has a unit at Goose Bay in
Labrador, Canada, which provides training in low-level
jet flying.
In reasonable detail, what are 22 Groups Role?
TRAINING
- Provide the Initial Training to RAF Officers at the Royal
Air Force College at RAF Cranwell and Basic Training
for airmen and airwomen at RAF Halton. - Operate the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT -
AKA Red Arrows) - Deliver RAF Force Development, Adventurous
Training, survival and specialist training. - Run the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC)
- Provide specialist joint training to personnel from all
three services, mainly in the following areas:- Aeronautical Engineering training
- Communications and Information Systems training
- Electro & Mechanical Engineering training
- Flying training for all types of aircraft (rotary wing,
fast jet, multi-engine aircraft)
In reasonable detail, what are 2 Groups Roles?
SUPPORT
- Search-and-rescue and mountain rescue
- Air transport
- Air-to-air refueling
- Force protection, which includes the RAF Regiment
(called ‘Rock Apes’) and RAF Police. The RAF regiment
is responsible for the ground defense of RAF facilities,
maintaining combat readiness, preventing enemy
attacks and minimising the damage caused by any
attacks.
The speed and global reach of 2 Group’s Force Protection and Air Mobility Force Elements allow the UK to rapidly deploy, sustain and recover its Armed Forces in response to developing security and humanitarian crises.
In reasonable detail, what are 38 Groups Roles?
- Comprises engineering and logistics, communications
and Medical Operations Force Elements. - Responsibility for UK-based United States Visiting
Forces (USVF) units and for RAF personnel detached to
other armed forces around the world.
In reasonable detail, what are 83 EAGs’ Roles?
The RAF’s operational headquarters in the Middle East at Al Udeid, Qatar. Acts as the RAF’s “second head” in the region and for the most part is independent of Air Command.
- 83 EAG’s area of responsibility extends from the
Southern end of the Arabian Gulf to the Eastern
Mediterranean, and encompasses numerous
relationships and alliances across the region. - Direct 4 EAWs that Support Operations SHADER and
KIPION, as well as the delivery of UK national and
Defence objectives in the Middle East.
List the 4 EAWs under 83 EAG
901 EAW
902 EAW
903 EAW
906 EAW
In reasonable detail, what are 11 Groups roles?
“MULTI-DOMAIN OPERATIONS GROUP”
Combines the capabilities of the COS Ops AO with the Air Battle Staff, comprising the deployable Joint Force Air Component (JFAC), the National Air & Space Operations Centre (NASOC) and the Executive Team, in order to:
- Ensure the RAF thinks and acts in a networked way
and combining air, space and cyber-warfare elements
to create an integrated force. - Ensure that the large amounts of data, intelligence and
information contributes to the planning and execution
of operations in the domains of air, space and cyber.
List and briefly describe the “6 pillars” of 22 Group
- Directorate of Ground Training (DGT)
The Directorate of Ground Training delivers RAF individual training and education policy, governance, assurance, and support. Composed of Training Policy and Plans, Adventure Training, Force Development, and Air Power Education. - Directorate of Flying Training (DFT)
Delivers competent and highly trained military aircrew, Air Traffic Controllers and Flight Operations personnel to meet front line requirements. Comprising Elementary Flying Training, Advanced Flying Training (Multi-Engine, Fast Jet, Rotary Wing) and the RAF Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows. - Defense College of Technical Training (DCTT)
Provides initial training to Service personnel entering the Armed Forces in the engineering trades, and delivers development training to qualified engineers throughout their careers. - Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC)
The RAF’s Air Cadets is one of the country’s premier youth organisations and the world’s largest youth air training organisation, supported by thousands of dedicated volunteer staff. Composed of the Air Training Corps (ATC), Combined Cadet Force (CCF) RAF sections, Gliding and Air Experience Flying. - Royal Air Force College (RAFC)
Delivers Recruit and Officer Training, and administers the University Air Squadrons, from RAF Cranwell. - Directorate of RAF Sport (DRS)
RAF sport at individual, unit, Service and inter-service levels and is responsible for providing guidance to volunteer sporting committees throughout the RAF.
Through these pillars, 22 Group works with local communities, recruits and selects individuals to join the Service, provides comprehensive training, looks after individuals’ professional development and helps them resettle into civilian life after leaving the Service.
What is 22 Group’s Mission Statement?
“Efficiently deliver world-class trained and educated personnel, RAFAT display, RAF sport, and the premier cadet force experience in order to support RAF strategy to meet Defence commitments.”
What is 2 Group’s Mission statement?
“To generate, sustain and, when directed, command forces for current operations; and develop forces for future operations.”
Briefly summarise the structure of the RAF for me
The RAF is made up of one HQ (Air Command), Groups (Numbers 1, 2, 11, 22, 38 and 83 EAG) - then stations, wings, squadrons, and flights.
Tell me more about the role of stations
An RAF station is a permanent location. Many are aerodromes or airbases and home to one or more flying units called squadrons. Other stations are training or administrative centers.
Most RAF stations are in the UK, but over the years there have been hundreds of others all over the world; wherever British forces have been in action. RAF Akrotiri is in Cyprus; RAF Gibraltar is where it says it is, and RAF Mount Pleasant is in the Falklands. The station commander is usually a group captain.
Tell me more about the role of wings
Wings are the administrative units of an RAF station. A typical Royal Air Force flying station (not training) has administrative, engineering and operations wings.
Numbered flying wings have existed in the past, but more recently they have been created as and when necessary, according to operational demand. An expeditionary air wing (EAW) would be made up of aircraft, crew, and support from several squadrons.
Tell me more about the role of squadrons
The basic fighting unit of the RAF is the squadron. This is roughly the equivalent of an Army regiment.
The shape and composition of a squadron varies according to its role. Most flying squadrons are commanded by a wing commander who oversees around 200 personnel and between 12 and 16 aircraft.
Tell me more about the role of flights
A squadron is further divided into flights, under the command of a squadron leader. A squadron usually consists of three flights. Two will be fully operational and ready to go, while a third has responsibility for training newly arrived crews.
Tell me more about Air Command
At one time there was a separate bomber command, fighter command and strike command. Now there is just the one, Air Command, which is responsible for all RAF operations.
It is divided into three groups: Number 1 Group, Number 2 Group, and Number 22 (Training) Group.
What is No. 1 Groups mission statement?
“to generate and develop effective combat air power for employment on operations”.
