INSIGHT ISSUE 4 INSIGHT ISSUE 4 INSIGHTMAGAZINE 1 2 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHTMAGAZINE 3 INSIGHT ISSUE 4 2016 From the Editor… Sqn Ldr Simon Nevin Hello and welcome to the summer This edition you will see an entry from edition of INSIGHT. I hope you are our very own Military Provost Guards. all enjoying a well-earned break or, if Three of the fine chaps who keep us like me, you try and get your summer and our families’ safe at Waddington holiday in earlier to avoid the crowds, attended the Adjutant Generals that you are enjoying a bit of peace Corp Parade of Remembrance at the and quiet in the office with everyone National Memorial Arboretum in July else away. We have had another busy and you can read all about it here. I period on unit with a number of high would commend to you the note from profile visitors and with the recent RAFA – this details some of the tasks return of some flying to Waddington, and responsibilities of RAFA volunteers the place has a real buzz about it. and also provides details on how you Following the recent visit of both the can pursue an interest in becoming new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief a volunteer yourself; they do some EDITORIAL TEAM: Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier and the outstanding work for both the serving [email protected] new Deputy Commander Operations, and their families. External Email: Use personal email addresses listed Air Marshal Stuart Atha, we have had the honour of hosting the new Air Fresh from singing with Lulu back in Tel: +44 (0)1522 728377 Officer Commanding (AOC) Number 1 April, the Military Wives Choir have been Editor: Group, Air Vice Marshal Gerry Mayhew, mixing with celebrities yet again. You Sqn Ldr Simon Nevin at the Annual Formal Inspection can read the article later in this edition [email protected] in July. As well as the usual formal on their attendance at the Armed Forces Deputy Editors: inspection of the unit, AOC 1 Gp took Day celebrations in Cleethorpes in Flt Lt Al Hall the opportunity to meet the fine June, where they were singing in front [email protected] folk of Waddington and also hosted of 180,000 people, including the Duke Sgt Sheree Chick an Honours and Awards Ceremony of Kent and the (then) Prime Minister, [email protected] in the Officers’ Mess, presenting 26 David Cameron. They were also invited Artwork: individual awards, ranging from a to sing at the Lincoln Castle to mark the S Oliver Queens Commendation for Bravery, hundredth anniversary of the start of several Long Service and Good the battle of the Somme, I’m sure a fairly Photography: Conduct medals, as well as a range of humbling experience. Sgt Pugley commendations. Falling on the hottest Cpl Bibby day of the year, it was a challenge for all We have welcomed a new member SAC Pope those who were dressed in their No1 of the team this month in Senior SAC Carruthers uniform to remain looking their best, Aircraftswoman Donna Taylor; Donna is SAC Clarke but I think most managed it. now in charge of sorting and delivering Advertising by: our fine publication and will also be Jo Marchant another set of eyes to help proof read in Tel: 01536 526674 the lead up to printing time. Thank you Designed by: once again for all of your articles, please Dharmesh Mistry do keep them coming in. [email protected] Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts and Published by: please enjoy this edition of INSIGHT. Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, Kettering, NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 512624 Fax: 01536 515481 www.lancepublishing.co.uk On the cover: Sentinel R1 [email protected] of 5(AC) Sqn over Lincoln Printed by: Lance Print Ltd 4 INSIGHTMAGAZINE 25 15 14 13 10 In this issue… AGC PARADE OF REMEMBRANCE STATION COMMANDER’S AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL 08 FOREWORD 14 ARBORETUM 18 HISTORY MADE AT EXERCISE CUMBRIAN CONTROLLERS 09 MEMORABLE AIR TATTOO 15 1 POLICE WING, 5 SQN MARCH 10 8 FP WG 18 & SHOOT RAF REGIMENT WADDINGTON WIVES CHOIR OPERATIONAL SHINE AT ARMED FORCES 11 SHOOTING COMPETITION 19 DAY INTRODUCING ATHENA : THE RAF BANDS SHOWCASE AIR ISTAR FORCE INTEGRATION WADDINGTON HORNETS 12 PROGRAMME 20 25 ‘BEST OF BRITISH’ RAF WADDINGTON RESERVISTS VISIT THE NATIONAL FIREARMS RAF WADDINGTON REGAIN 13 CENTRE AND LEEDS ROYAL 24 RAFMSA ENDURANCE RACE 29 RAF T20 CRICKET CROWN ARMOURIES The magazine is entirely funded by advertising and costs the Station nothing to produce. Insight is not an official publication and, unless otherwise stated, views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent MOD, RAF or Station policy. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the editor or publishers. Advertisements accepted on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. Insight is produced by kind permission of the Station Commander, RAF Waddington. INSIGHTMAGAZINE 5 6 INSIGHTMAGAZINE INSIGHTMAGAZINE 7 Station Commander’s Foreword... Group Captain Al Marshall A very warm welcome to this latest edition of INSIGHT and I hope you are benefitting from some well-earned time off over the Summer, or at least enjoying some of the good weather we have had over the last few weeks. This is the time of year when you would be forgiven for thinking that our output reduces, as the Station becomes much quieter and footfall through the gate is less, but the operational output of the Station remains as high as ever, with all of our Force Elements (FE) employed in delivering highly valuable and sought after capability on operations. The rapid deployment of our included his Annual Formal very own 34 Expeditionary Inspection (AFI) in July; with Air Wing to support 51 a focus on the challenges we Squadron with their Rivet face in terms of infrastructure, relationship with NATO will be Joint operations is another manpower and other resource reinforced rather than diminish. example of the hard work limitations, the new AOC was and commitment involving given a real flavour of the issues Finally, my Station all areas of the Station. Often that we have to manage day Commander’s Forums continue the plaudits for our successes to day, whilst also gathering a at various rank levels and are received by the flying deeper understanding of our the feedback and interaction squadrons, but support operational outputs. He also to date has been first class. I from across Waddington is took the opportunity to conduct value the open and honest essential to the delivery of an Honours and Awards discussions and welcome the ISTAR and I would like to Ceremony, as we celebrated the suggestions and ideas that you offer my personal thanks to personal achievements of some have already brought to my everyone involved in ensuring of our people. It was great to attention. Please remember our Expeditionary Air Wing see so many family and friends that as well as the forums, was able to deploy in time. in attendance and I hope that there are several methods of those of you who were able to reporting or offering ideas, The last few months have seen attend enjoyed the afternoon. including the INFORM (General significant change, not just for Issues) and ASIMS (Air Safety the RAF, but for the country In addition, the BREXIT vote has Issues) processes, or the ability and, arguably, for Europe had an impact with financial to email the Project ATHENA as a whole. The top three instability and uncertainty, team direct to offer a view on commanders in our chain have a new Prime Minister and the future of ISTAR. Please all changed over: Chief of the several changes in government continue to use your chain of Air Staff, Deputy Commander departments. However, there command and/or any of these of Operations and our Air is no change within Defence methods to get your ideas Officer Commanding (AOC) or in Defence output at the heard, so that we have the No1 Group, Air Vice Marshal moment; for us it is ‘business best information with which Gerry Mayhew. Notably all as usual’. Whatever the future to make decisions both in the three have already visited holds, our commitments will near-term and for the future. the Station, highlighting how remain and the relationships we prominent and important have forged with our coalition I hope you enjoy this edition Waddington is within the partners will continue and if of INSIGHT and also the Service. The AOC’s visit anything the Station’s important rest of the summer. 8 INSIGHTMAGAZINE outstanding event. The icing on the cake was the visit on Friday by the Duke and Duchess of HISTORY MADE Cambridge and their son Prince George. “My thanks go to all our sponsors, AT MEMORABLE in particular BAE Systems and all the participating air arms Dawn McCafferty and Honorary Air including the US Air Force, who Cadet Gp Capt Carol Vorderman. allow us to stage the event at RAF AIR TATTOO Fairford and the Royal Air Force for History was made both in the air were HRH Prince Michael of Kent There were 36 international military all its support. and on the ground at this weekend’s and HRH Prince Feisal of Jordan. chiefs in attendance including Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF More than 230 aircraft, from 37 air Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Once again, the Air Tattoo has Fairford in Gloucestershire. arms in 24 countries participated Chief of the Defence Staff; Air Chief performed an important defence in the Air Tattoo which took place Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, the RAF diplomacy role not only in The airshow, which took place over in warm, largely sunny weather.