F e a t u r e s
The Job of Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group
A
ir Vice-Marshal Christopher Harper, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, is due to leave post shortly to become
Deputy Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command in the Netherlands. As he prepares to move on, AVM Harper reflects on the achievements of the Group on operations, and the significant efforts being made throughout the RAF to improve the quality of life for personnel and families at their home bases.
The day-to-day job of No 1 Group is to generate and deliver combat air power for the Royal Air Force. There are over 14,500 people employed within the Group; these personnel are not only from the RAF but also from the Navy and Army. The Group’s stations all provide a significant contribution to UK defence and our Main Operating Bases are Leuchars and Lossiemouth in Scotland; Coningsby, Cottesmore, Marham, Spadeadam and Leeming. In addition to this No 1 Group is also responsible for the full command and welfare of all the RAF personnel employed within Joint Helicopter Command at Benson, Odiham and Aldergrove.
All of the No 1 Group stations have aircraft and/or personnel deployed on operations across the globe or operating from home base here in the UK. Leuchars and Coninsby are employed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days year providing Quick Reaction Alert aircraft in the form of the Tornado F3 and our latest arrival, the Typhoon. At the moment, the Tornado F3 also provides Quick Reaction Alert cover over the Falklands Islands, although Typhoon will assume this role towards the end of the year.
One of the more impressive contributions made during my time in command has been that of Joint Force Harrier in Afghanistan. Their performance has been stunning, a 100% achievement of over 1,450 sorties in Afghanistan in the last calendar year. The RAF and RN personnel who make up Joint Force Harrier have saved the lives of countless British and coalition troops.
The personnel of the Tornado GR4 team have all been working extremely hard in providing vital air support to the troops on the ground in Iraq. Joint Helicopter Force personnel are also heavily tasked on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The courage, grit and determination that the Support Helicopter Force shows when moving UK and coalition troops and equipment in the most hazardous of conditions is not only extraordinary but very humbling indeed.
I am only too aware that this sort of success on operations can only be achieved when personnel deploy knowing that those who they leave behind are as happy as possible. The work of my Station staffs in properly looking after and sensitively caring for families has been outstanding and the support they have received from the RAF Families Federation in its first year has been fantastic. I have also been impressed by the number of initiatives that have been taken recently to improve the quality of life for our families. Many of these projects have been undertaken, in addition to primary duties, by personnel who are preparing for their next involvement on operations.
Last year, for example, Marham sought funding of £220,000 for a youth development project which delivered a multi- use games area and outdoor parks on the families patch, and an outdoor play area for the community centre. Similarly, Wittering’s welfare ‘Hub’ has been upgraded at a cost of £20,000; the Hub provides a focal point for all welfare facilities benefiting all families and station personnel. Leuchars have just installed a kids activity zone within their Delta Club at a cost of £6,000 and, by so doing, have further improved an already an excellent Station facility; a further £10,000
6 Spring 2009
has been spent there on the Station’s youth club to provide an excellent focal point for older children. There have also been numerous coffee shop upgrades across the Group; these help in providing excellent social environments for family and welfare activities. And nearly all my Group’s stations received Local Initiative grants ranging from £64,000 to £125,000 to be used during this financial year to improve the quality of life of our people and their families.
I am the first to recognize that these facilities, however good they might be, cannot make up for the absence of a much loved family member
deployed on operations. But they can make life easier
by providing safe and
stimulating environments for our children, and offering relaxing and welcoming environments for spouses and partners.
It seems to me that the RAF Families Federation came into existence at exactly the right time and that it has been manned by exactly the right sort of dedicated, determined, imaginative and enthusiastic people. The Federation’s successes have already been legion and I have been particularly impressed by their proactive engagement with politicians and the Civil Service. In providing an independent voice for the serving RAF and their families on issues of welfare concern they are doing a vital job of enhancing our Service’s operational effectiveness. I certainly wish this fledgling organisation well and hope that it will continue to enjoy the success that we all hope for and deserve.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48