RAF Shawbury in the Community Liaison with Shropshire Council and Local Businesses to RAF Shawbury in the Support the Armed Forces Covenant
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RAF Shawbury in the Community liaison with Shropshire Council and local businesses to RAF Shawbury in the support the Armed Forces Covenant. Additionally, the Central Flying School (Helicopters) (CFS(H)) supported Community the RAF Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) by ferrying Red 10 to public displays on 41 occasions. RAF Shawbury also RAF Shawbury’s mission is to deliver world leading offered its facilities to clubs, groups, and professional helicopter crews and air operations staff for sports teams, including hosting the inter-Services defence. Trainee helicopter pilots and rear crew Football matches. A summary of engagement activities from all three services receive their instruction is detailed below and within Annex A. at the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS), while the School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) trains RAF and RN air traffic controllers. The Flight Establishing Good and Operations Training Squadron, part of SAOC, also Friendly Relations with trains RAF and Army personnel. Overseas Communities In addition, the largest military Aircraft Maintenance and Storage Unit (AMSU) in the UK is located at RAF International Students. As well as training students Shawbury, as well as the Air Traffic Management to world leading standards, RAF Shawbury also Standards and Evaluation (ATM Staneval) Squadron and supports International Defence Training (IDT). the Central Flying School Helicopters (CFS(H)) Squadron (and examiners). RAF Shawbury parents a further 180 During 2018, the DHFS delivered pilot training to HRH units (covering welfare, funding, logistics and security), Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, who completed his of which 149 are Air Cadet/Combined Cadet Force flying training on the final courses taught on the Squirrel units (7000 young people). The base is also home to and Griffin helicopters. The graduates were delighted 28 (Shawbury) Squadron Air Training Corps, providing to receive their Aircrew Brevets from the Reviewing additional youth activities for local young people. Officer, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. The highly During 2018, RAF Shawbury also delivered an successful Royal visit was ensured by a significant and unprecedented number of transformation projects. sustained ‘Whole Force’ effort. The Chief of the Air Staff, These included the transition of the Defence ACM Sir Stephen Hillier said: “The graduation of HRH Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) into the rotary Prince Mateen is an opportunity for us to reflect on the element of the UK Military Flying Training System UK’s long and steadfast alliance with Brunei which has (MFTS) and the introduction of 2 new aircraft types, the endured since 1979, supporting a close relationship Juno HT1 and Jupiter HT1. between our Armed Forces.” Whilst MFTS has, perhaps, received the most attention, CFS (H) Sqn also provided QHI training for 2 activity in support of other transformation initiatives international aircrew from Jordan and the USA. The such as Programme MARSHALL, the Battlespace School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) also trained a Management Transformation (BMT), Project HADES student from Germany. and Project HESTIA should not be underestimated. The challenges in delivering these transformation RAF Shawbury welcomed children from Chernobyl. programmes have been significant and, despite 10 children aged between 9 and 11 years old from the the Station’s relatively small size, with 539 military area affected by the Chernobyl disaster stayed at RAF personnel, 53 Civil Servants, 480 contractors and Shawbury for a week in August as part of a month- approximately 200 military trainees on strength at any long visit to the UK. The Chernobyl Children’s Project given time, the tempo and operational effectiveness of supports families in Belarus by bringing their children the Station has not faltered. to the UK for recuperative holidays. The children have all been affected by cancer or leukaemia and Throughout 2018, RAF100 also presented an are either in remission or still receiving treatment. As opportunity to highlight the RAF’s enduring role in insufficient host families could be found in Shropshire, supporting national security and other Government the programme was in danger of being cancelled objectives, to recognise the quality of our people and when RAF Shawbury stepped in for the second year to inspire the future generation. 2018 was, therefore, running to accommodate the children in surplus an exciting year for all personnel at RAF Shawbury accommodation at the base, along with their Doctor, as we supported a nationwide campaign of events interpreter and Carers. The C4i section raised funds and initiatives. The base hosted 110 visits and to pay for the children’s visits to local attractions such carried out liaison visits across Shropshire, including as Drayton Manor Park, Alton Towers, the Shrewsbury RAF100 presentations to community groups, school Climbing Wall, and the Blue Planet Aquarium. The art competitions (Photo 3, back page), flypasts, children also joined in with the unit’s Airplay Summer air experience flights for cadet units, STEM visits to activity programme which enabled the young people schools and colleges, engagement visits to fetes, and from both countries to join together and make new 2 RAF SHAWBURY IN THE COMMUNITY friends. The visitors stated that RAF Shawbury had high visibility clothing makes such a difference and been the highlight of their visit to Shropshire. increases the safety of every horse and rider.” Football Shirt Appeal. 2018 was the most successful RAF100 Parade. On 10 Jul, RAF Servicemen and year so far for the RAF Shawbury-based ‘Taking Football women from RAF Shawbury were proud and privileged to Africa and Beyond’ Charitable Appeal. The charity to take part in the static aircraft display at Horse Guards, collects donated football kit from major Football the main RAF100 parade carrying the Standard of Sixty organisations such as Sheffield & Hallamshire County Squadron and the associated fly past over the Mall. FA, Hampshire FA, Leicester City and Manchester United The fly past included two Juno helicopters and one and locally, Shrewsbury Town Football Club, which is Jupiter helicopter from RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley then re-distributed to children and adults across the representing 202 Squadron and Sixty Squadron from globe. By the end of the year, the Appeal had arranged the Defence Helicopter Flying School and the Central 34 deliveries distributing 31,500 items to 18 countries Flying School (H) Squadron. (Photo 9, back page) worldwide, including to the refugee camps in Turkey and Syria, to islands in Indonesia and to many countries RAF100 Freedom Parades. On 1 and 2 Sep, it was across Africa and the Americas. During Easter 2018, our honour to share the centenary of the RAF with the service personnel from RAF Shawbury visited Kenya to residents of 3 local towns as we exercised the freedom to deliver thousands of items of kit to the large slum areas march through Wem, Market Drayton and Shrewsbury. of Kibera, Kibagare and Mathare, whilst celebrating the Two flights, along with the Standard Party of Sixty 100th birthday of the RAF. Squadron marched with bayonets fixed, the Squadron’s Standard flying and accompanied by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. (Photo 4, back page) Establishing Good and RAF100 Run. On 9 Sep, 427 runners from the local area Friendly Relations with the and beyond put on their trainers for a 10km race held Home Communities on the airfield at RAF Shawbury to celebrate RAF100. The aim of the event was to raise funds to support RAF100 Baton Relay. On 3 May, the RAF100 Baton the RAF100 Appeal as well as raising awareness of the Relay arrived in Shropshire from Crickhowell where it RAF’s centenary amongst the local community. The was handed over to the RAF Shawbury team. For the race took the runners along the runways and taxiways Shawbury leg the Station’s team promoted the event and past the hangars; each km was marked by a static by arranging for the baton to be transported by canoe aircraft, many on display were from the AMSU, making and bicycle to RAF Cosford; BBC Radio Shropshire the route more interesting. The event raised £3,506 for accompanied the team with live broadcasts having the RAF100 Appeal. (Photo 8, back page) converted their canoe in to a mobile radio station. The Shropshire community came out in force to cheer the RAF100 Veterans Tea Party. On 14 Sep, RAF baton on its way from bridges and riverbanks along Shawbury was delighted to welcome local veterans the way. RAF Shawbury medic, SAC Sunley said: “This and RAFA members to a RAF100 tea party, including event makes me feel proud to serve in the RAF. It has six veterans who served during WW2. The veterans been a fantastic opportunity to engage with the local were delighted to meet up and talk about their community and show the spirit of RAF100.” memories with younger members of today’s Armed Forces. The Station Commander said: “It was very Landowners’ and Horse-Rider Awareness Day. On humbling to have such inspirational guests with us 17 May, RAF Shawbury held a combined Landowners’ here today to celebrate RAF100. It is right and fitting and Horse-Rider Awareness Day. Local landowners that we commemorate the service and sacrifices that provide fields and clearings that are essential to these veterans have endured, celebrate their lives and the delivery of flying training by allowing trainees see how they continue to inspire our young officers, to practice landing in difficult and varying terrain. airwoman and airmen of today. The look of awe on our Approximately 100 landowners and horse-riders young trainees’ faces when chatting with the veterans gathered for an introduction on the day’s activities; was remarkable.” (Photo 1, back page) the horse-riders also received a briefing to highlight the safety benefits of wearing high visibility clothing North Shropshire Safety Scene.