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Does the RAF regiment have a future?

Back on thread.

1. The Army has no desire to guard / defend airbases expeditionary or otherwise.

2. The RAF has no desire to have the Army guard / defend its airbases.

Unless both change the RAF Regiment has a future.

The Army don't want to but give it to STAB inf Bns as a secondary role. They are always looking a purpose and an excuse to mobilise people. Would be a lot cheaper than the RAF regt.



(Idea purely for the purpose of riling rock apes)
 
The Army don't want to but give it to STAB inf Bns as a secondary role. They are always looking a purpose and an excuse to mobilise people. Would be a lot cheaper than the RAF regt.



(Idea purely for the purpose of riling rock apes)
Surely if the threat warrants mobilisation the RAF aux can do it!
 
Are they going to deploy on HMS QE? Only a semi humorous question as the aircraft carriers make it more likely for air to deploy at sea, where appropriate, there will be even less reason for airfield defence.
 
During GW1 one of our SNCOs was issued with 2 sets of Dessies, an SMG and a radio, after 20 mins training he was a fully qualified FAC in support of the Rats

While he did a good job it was just by luck that they picked a smart lad who was fairly bright and picked it up as he want along, personally I'd want a professional that knew what he was doing with plenty of training rather than a lucky amateur - hence I'd rather have Rocks guarding airfields (or running the defence of) rather than some random group of pongos who may/may not have ever been on a flying station before, never mind know how to defend it and may be withdrawn at an moment at the whim of the Army commander

I can't believe I'm saying nice things about Rocks......
 
During GW1 one of our SNCOs was issued with 2 sets of Dessies, an SMG and a radio, after 20 mins training he was a fully qualified FAC in support of the Rats

While he did a good job it was just by luck that they picked a smart lad who was fairly bright and picked it up as he want along, personally I'd want a professional that knew what he was doing with plenty of training rather than a lucky amateur - hence I'd rather have Rocks guarding airfields (or running the defence of) rather than some random group of pongos who may/may not have ever been on a flying station before, never mind know how to defend it and may be withdrawn at an moment at the whim of the Army commander

I can't believe I'm saying nice things about Rocks......

Why does everyone on the thread think you need to be a PhD to defend an airfield?

The RAF Regiment are not Infantry, they are military personnel with limited military training and extremely limited capabilities who carry out an extremely limited task. Any sod can be taught how to defend an airfield but they are welcome to it.
 
Why does everyone on the thread think you need to be a PhD to defend an airfield?

The RAF Regiment are not Infantry, they are military personnel with limited military training and extremely limited capabilities who carry out an extremely limited task. Any sod can be taught how to defend an airfield but they are welcome to it.
Have you ever worked with them? And yes, you do have to be quite smart - did you not read the little story I wrote earlier about the Army defending RAF Much-Binding-in-the Marsh where they ignored the RF hazard of big ****-off pre-transistor AD radars?

The Rocks are a RAF asset whose job is to defend the airhead/radar sites* etc- pongos, not so much

*Ably supported by those dealers of death 'Guin Force'

penguins-of-madagascar.jpg
 
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Why does everyone on the thread think you need to be a PhD to defend an airfield?

'Don't walk on the runway, don't smoke around the fuel bowzers, try not to crash a landrover into any of the planes'. Even the Mick guards could be trained to do that.

Ok, there's probably a little more to it but it's hardly rocket science. It's a large fixed site with a moderately complex role.
 
Once again,
RAF Asset = RAF Asset = Guard the site
Army Asset = Army Asset = Do whatever they're tasked to do, maybe Guard the Airfield, maybe get dragged off to do something else

Ok, there's probably a little more to it but it's hardly rocket science. It's a large fixed site with a moderately complex role.

Check out the accident rate at RAF Mount Pleasant - and that's before anyone's firing at you........
Pongos and airfields - just say NO!
 
The role of the infantry is to defeat the enemy through close combat not protect a high value asset and help set conditions for air operations. Once you get your head around that then the fact that some RAF Regiment look superficially infantry becomes irrelevant. Just because the infantry can be trained to do just about anything doesn’t make it their job.

Besides, there’s f@cl all battle honours to be won defending tarmac so far in the rear that you have to send your laundry forward.

Seriously, if you don’t get the fundamentally different role and status of ‘the base’ to lsnd versus the air component take a look at Kitson’s ‘Bunch of Five’
 
Have you ever worked with them? And yes, you do have to be quite smart - did you not read the little story I wrote earlier about the Army defending RAF Much-Binding-in-the Marsh where they ignored the RF hazard of big ****-off pre-transistor AD radars?

The Rocks are a RAF asset whose job is to defend the airhead/radar sites* etc- pongos, not so much

*Ably supported by those dealers of death 'Guin Force'

penguins-of-madagascar.jpg

You are obsessed. What is the educational requirement to join the RAF Regiment?

I shall give you a clue

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
No formal qualifications are required for application.
 
You are obsessed. What is the educational requirement to join the RAF Regiment?

I shall give you a clue

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
No formal qualifications are required for application.

I hate to disappoint you but they don't just go off the basic education requirements.... there's a battery of tests you sit through too, and guess what? Yep, the 'chop rate' is very high...... I understand the Army is still using the 'if you're breathing you're in' policy (or at least according those involved)

Look, face it, getting rid of the Rocks to save the Loamshires makes no sense to anyone, Airfield defence is a specialised job
 
Look, face it, getting rid of the Rocks to save the Loamshires makes no sense to anyone, Airfield defence is a specialised job
Which can and is delivered by pretty average individuals.

Any donkey can be trained to carry out the majority of low level military tasks there is nothing particularly special about RAF Regiment recruits. Yes I have worked with them and RAFP and remain astounded by the low level of intelligence in both organisations.

I am not suggesting getting rid of them as we can not afford to lose highly specialised Infantry who operate on complex fast moving battlefields in combined arms operations taking the fight to the enemy. Why would they want to drive around in circles around a piece of tarmac?
 
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