Role of RAF and NATO Flashcards
What does NATO stand for?
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
What is NATO?
An Intergovernmental Military Alliance.
Founded in Washington in April 1949 following the signing of the Washington Treaty.
Aimed to:
- Secure peace in Europe
- Promote inter-member cooperation
- Guard their freedom and provide collective security against the Soviet Union
NATO Members?
NATO originally had 12 members
- US, Canada, UK, Italy, Iceland, Norway, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal
Currently 30 members, most recent = North Macedonia in March 2020.
Role of NATO
Safeguard the security of its members both through political and military means.
Promoted democratic values and cooperation on defence as well as military power.
What is the Washington Treaty?
Signed by 12 founding members.
Based on UN Charter Article 51 that confirms the right of states to individual or collective defence.
What is the UN?
The UN was created to maintain international peace and security. It creates and maintains international law.
It was created in October 1945 and currently has 198 member states.
What is the RAF?
Royal Air Force
Created 1st April 1918 from the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service.
Role of the RAF?
Defend Britain’s skies and protect the UK’s power and influence globally.
This includes responding to threats, delivering aid, preventing conflict and combatting cyber threats.
How many people are in the RAF?
32,940 active personnel
1,940 Royal Auxiliary Air Force
3,200 Reserves
832 Operational aircraft
Who is the Air Chief Marshal?
Air Chief Marshal = 4 star officer rank, most senior peacetime Air Force rank and the professional head of the RAF.
Mike Wigston, CBE, ADC
Response to NATO being formed?
The formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 between the Soviet Union and affiliated Communist nations. Especially provoked by West Germany being accepted into NATO in 1955.
Why was NATO in Afghanistan?
Since 9/11 NATO has been operating in Afghanistan under a UN mandate to prevent the country becoming a safe haven for terrorism.
What is a Commissioned Officer?
Officers who derive their authority from a commission issued by the monarch.
What is a Non-Commissioned Officer?
Derive authority through being promoted through other ranks, link between other ranks and commissioned officers.
