RAF

Question 1

Challenges of being in the RAF

Answer 1

Away from Home

Lack of communication with friends and family at certain times

Question 2

Additional Duties

Answer 2

Orderly officer - reponsible for any issues 24 hours a day and escalating an issue when the situation requires it.
Accommodation Officer
Sport Team manager

Question 3

Personal Strengths

Answer 3

Team working - multi-disciplinary team at work. Client/Architect/Engineer working to resolve conflicts, assess risk. Use Ashbridge Street.
Communication - Articulating to clients or other team members why we’ve chosen to do something. Both verbally and written.
Leadership - delegating work to Seb and Nigel, assessing their problems and solving them.

Question 4

Personal Weaknesses

Answer 4

Speaking up when I have something to add - Pride sometimes stops me from giving solutions or ideas in a professional environment. People make mistakes, by putting an idea out there you may solve something so I now think it through and then suggest it. At worst it will be dismissed.

Question 5

Application Process

Answer 5

P2 Presentation, Filter Interview, Medical, OASC, Offer Acceptance, Familiarisation Visit, Training begins.

Question 6

IOT Term 1

Answer 6

Transition from civilian to service life ending with an exercise to put into practice what you have learnt so far.
Week 1-3: Basic Military Skills, ESK, PEd, Drill, Basic Leadership, CESR, VC, BVP, APS
Week 4: Basic Military Skills Ex (First chance to test out different leadership styles)
Week 5: Basic Leadership Ex
Week 6-7: Advanced Military Skills (CBRN)
Week 8: Advanced Military Skills Ex

Question 7

IOT Term 2

Answer 7

Focuses heavily on leadership with further academic study resulting in an end of term exam and essay.
Week 1: FD
Week 2: ESK, WC, APS, Advanced Leadership, Drill, BVP, PEd
Week 3: Advanced Leadership Ex (Military Aid to civilians)
Week 4-5: ESK, WC, APS, Advanced Leadership, Drill, BVP, PEd
Week 6: Tested Leadership Exercise (Vital Edge, puts everything learnt so far into practice)
Week 7-8: ESK, WC, APS, Advanced Leadership, Drill, BVP, PEd

Question 8

IOT Term 3

Answer 8

Five week carousel of training followed by exercise Decisive Edge which puts you in a simulated HQ to conduct large scale air operations.
Week 1: FD
Week 2-3: BAWC (Basic Air Warfare Course)
Week 4: Leadership consolidation Exercise (Decisive Edge)
Week 5: Care in Leadership
Week 6: ESK, WC, APS, Drill
Week 7-8: Mon-Ultimate Challenge, Tues-Champagne, Wed onwards-Graduation Prep

Question 9

What happens after IOT?

Answer 9

RAF Cosford
Engineer Officer Foundation Training Course (Aerosystems)
Prepares you to meet demand of your appointment by developing you sub-sepcialisation and a range of managerial and technical competencies.
Includes practical situational exercises and numerous visits to military establishments and to industry.
Students will also undertake the a Practical Team Working Expedition as part of the course.

Question 10

Role of an Engineering Officer

Answer 10

Provide engineering management for the RAF
Oversee safety of munitions and other explosive materials.
Set, influence, and maintain air-safety policy and direction.
Managing the design, maintenance, and operation of technology to enable the RAF to meet its goals.
A leader and technical decision maker, required to balance resources and risk.

Question 11

First and Second Tour

Answer 11

Likely to be to a flying station home to several squadrons. Operationally focused, responsible for airworthiness of a squadron’s aircraft and/or a variety of ground support equipment. Responsible for a shift of technicians and their welfare.
Take up additional duties such as orderly officer or be in charge of a club or society.

Question 12

Role of the RAF

Answer 12

To protect the UK and her interest 24/7.
This encompasses offensive and defensive activities. This is achieved through the use of Combat aircraft, support aircraft, and ISTAR aircraft.
Air defense and Airborne Early Warning
AT and AAR
SAR
RPAS

Question 13

Role of the RAF in the UK

Answer 13

Defend UK airspace through ISTAR and QRA

Question 14

Role of the RAF Abroad

Answer 14

Police the skies and support peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts as well as using presence to maintain stability in a region.

Question 15

What is expected of an officer

Answer 15

Trustworthy, dilligent and demonstrate high levels of personal and professional standards.
Officers need to be open-minded and understand the needs of the service and their people.
Its about doing more with your life, pushing your boundaries, helping others and protecting those most dear to us.
RAF motto: ‘Per Ardua Ad Astra’ Through adversity to the stars.
RAF mantra: ‘Thinking to win’ encourages forward thought and innovation.

Question 16

Benefits of joining the RAF

Answer 16

Private health and dental care
Holiday
Free fitness facilities
Opportunity to go abroad
Socialising and Camaraderie
Adventurous Training (i.e. RAF Eagles)

Question 17

Air Power

Answer 17

Air power is the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events

Question 18

The three parts of Air Power

Answer 18

Speed - Rapid reaction of aircraft to threats. Rapid arrival to the conflict arena. Speed also keeps assets safer
Height - Less vulnerable to enemy fire than land and sea forces
Reach - Operations can be conducted at a distance from the enemy and aircraft can travel greater distances

Question 19

RAF Mission types

Answer 19

Deep attack - relis on the reach that allows air power to attack key vulnerabilities beyond the immediate battlefield
Counter-land - focus on the fight for control of the land. When extended beyond the battlefield these are known as Air Interdiction (AI). Four T’s: Task, Target, Threat, Tactics
Counter-sea - As above but for the sea
Information operations - gathering infromation

Question 20

RAF Ethos, Core Values and Standards

Answer 20

RISE
Respect - Mutual and self
Integrity - Moral Courage, honesty, responsibility, justice
Service - Physical courage, loyalty, commitment
Excellence - Personal, Discipline, Pride

Question 21

UK RAF Bases

Answer 21

RAF Coningsby
RAF Bendon
RAF Marham
RAF Odiham
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Waddington

Question 22

RAF Coningsby

Answer 22

One of two QRA stations. Home to two frontline Typhoon squadrons (First front line and Multi-role) and two Typhoon training squadrons (Test and Evaluation, and Evaluation). Also home to the BBMF.

Question 23

RAF Benson

Answer 23

Support Helicopter Main Operating Base working with the Joint Helicopter Command. Home to the Puma and Chinook Forces.

Question 24

RAF Marham

Answer 24

Home to frontline Tornado GR4 squadrons in Attack, Recon, and SEAD (suppression of enemy air defences).
Currently supporting the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
Also home to a range of engineer support functions and will be home to the F-35B Lightning.

Question 25

RAF Odiham

Answer 25

Works with Joint Helicopter Command, providing rapid support of UK operations throughout the world.
Home to 3 Chinook squadrons and one Army Air Corps Lynx squadron.

Question 26

RAF Lossiemouth

Answer 26

One of two QRA stations.
Home to three Typhoon GR4 squadrons and a RAF Regiment squadron.
Also supports operations worldwide and hosts numerous national and international exercises.

Question 27

RAF Brize Norton

Answer 27

Largest RAF station in the UK.
Centre of the RAF's AT and AAR capabilities.
Voyager (AAT and AT)
Atlas A400M (AT)
C-17 Globemaster 3 (AT)
C130-J Hercules (AT)

Question 28

RAF Waddington

Answer 28

Fulfills two main roles in the RAF, ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) and is the main operating base for airborne intelligence aircraft.
The Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddinton provides timely and contextual integrated mission support. Sentinel R1 (ISTAR, long range)
E3-D (ISTAR/AWACS)
MQ-9A Reaper (ISTAR, Remote piloted MALE)
Shadow R1 (ISTAR)
Airseeker (ISTAR, Elec surveillance)

Question 29

Overseas RAF Bases

Answer 29

RAF Akrotiri
RAF Gibraltar
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Mount Pleasant Falkland Islands

Question 30

RAF Akrotiri

Answer 30

Operational focus is to support operations in Afghanistan.
Akrotiri acts as a gateway to operations with both personnel and equipment moving through the station to and from theatre. It is used as a forward mounting base for overseas operations in the Middle East and for fast jet training.
Has sufficient stores for intensive support of both the RAF, Navy and Army.
Also supports the local Republic of Cyprus services for S&R and firefighting.
Has designated airspace to its south providing training.

Question 31

RAF Gibraltar

Answer 31

Aircraft are no longer stationed here but make regular visits and it is still manned by RAF personnel to support UK military operations.
Ideal staging post for aircraft on operations and a supporting base for major NATO exercises in the Med and Iberian peninsular.

Question 32

RAF Ascension Island

Answer 32

Used extensively as a staging base during the Falklands War.

Still the major role for the station, which it performs for both the RAF and the USAF.

Question 33

RAF Mount Pleasant Falklands Islands

Answer 33

Was built to establish a fighter and transport presence in the islands following the Falklands War.

Question 34

Current Operations

Answer 34

Operation Shader - Name given to the UKs contribution to fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Flying out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus the RAF sends Tornado GR4s, Typhoons, RPAS and E3-D Sentry aircraft for both offensive and intelligence/surveillance purposes. Voyager aircraft also operate an AAR role C130s provide transport. The RAF has carried out over 1700 strikes against Daesh and continues to provide support to the ground forces clearing the last remaining areas held by Daesh in Eastern Syria.

Falklands - SAR support to the islands whilst a Hercules provides air transport and, if required, the ability to parachute supply drops to remote and isolated communities, assist in SAR or medical evacuation. A flight of Typhoon Air Defence fighters also operate from Mount Pleasant Airfield. Fly to ensure the security of the islands and fly deterrence patrols across the areas making up the airbridge. A VC10 tanker provides AAR for the flight of typhoon air defence fighters that operate in the area.

UK - QRA - Air Surveillance and Control Systems (ASACS) Force is responsible for compiling a Recognised Air Picture, with radars monitoring the airspace around the UK, and providing tactical control of the QRA force.

Also operating with NATO

Question 35

When was NATO formed and how many states

Answer 35

4 April 1949
12 states - UK, USA, France, Canada…
29 states now. Montenegro is the most recent member (2017)

Question 36

What is the role of NATO

Answer 36

To guarantee the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means.
Works with the UN, EU and others as a peace keeping outfit.
Holds exercises as a show of military cooperation.
Article 5: Collective Defence. If you attack one, you attack all. Only invocation after the September/11 attacks.
Cyber Defence

Question 37

NATO Operations

Answer 37

Resolute Support Mission, Afghanistan - training, advising and assisting the Afghan security forces and institutions
Securing the Nordic and Baltic States - Readiness Action Plan, 5000 strong joint task force
Kosovo Force - June 1999, a peacekeeping mission after the Kosovo war started in 1998.