FEATURES
RAFAT THE PARALYMPICS
“The RAF’s motto ‘Through adversity to the stars’ shows that the men and women of the RAF share the same ethos as the men and women performing at the Paralympics” Sqn Ldr Stewart Staudinger, OC 33 Sqn
T
he crew of a RAF Puma kick- started the opening of the 2012 Paralympic Games by helping to unveil the official
logo in Edinburgh. Personnel from 33 Sqn arrived by Puma at The Mound in Scotland’s capital performing a fast- rope drop from the aircraft to present arrows to Team GB Paralympian Alasdair Hamilton.
The Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Sir Stephen Dalton, visted locations involved in the Paralympic games and spoke to RAF personnel who helped make the London 2012 experience such a sucess. Wg Cdr Brian Ripley escorted CAS and provided an operational update.
Sir Stephen said: “The vital task of the airmen and women in the Venue Security Force is vastly different from their primary da-to-day duties in the Royal Air Force. Nevertheless, their inherent commitment and agility, key
characteristics of the modern RAF , reflects
the strong sense of duty I see consistency in our persnnel at home, on operations and have witnessed again here.”
CAS spoke to Steven Cooper, Head of security for the Olympic Park and village. An ex military officer, Mr Cooper was full of praise for all three services. He said that during the Paralympic games, security from the military would be more ‘light blue’ than than anything else.
The London 2012 Paralympic Games has seen a record number of serving and ex-serving military personnel competing. Six injured servicemen and women who took part were introduced to their sports by the Battle Back programme, an MoD initiative to design programmes to promote confidence and independence and help accelerate physical, psychological and social recovery throughout the duration of recovery. The inspiration is to focus on what these individuals can do and not what they can’t.
John Robertson served RAF as a weapons technician with 20 (R) Sqn, working on Harriers and is representing Great Britain in the Paralympics. John was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him paralysed from the chest down.
It was the RAF Benevolent Fund that came to John’s rescue and provided him with a flat near his family in Sunderland and where he pays an affordable rent to stay there. John said, “The help I received from the RAF Be- nevolent Fund has been life changing. It al- lows me to live independently and has taken a huge weight off my shoulders, allowing me to pursue my sailing without having to worry about where I am going home to at the end of the day”.
The Defence Chiefs of Staff don T shirts to show support for the Paralympics. Left to right: 1st Sea Lord – Adm Sir Mark Stanhope, Air Chief Marshal – Sir Stewart Peach, Cdr Joint Forces Comd, Chief of the Defence Staff – Gen Sir David Richards, Chief of the Air Staff – Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff – Gen Sir Nicholas Houghton and Chief of the General Staff – Gen Sir Peter Wall. Adidas, the official sportswear provider for the London 2012 Games launched the limited edition t-shirt to help raise money for H4H.
14 Envoy Autumn 2012
Since the accident John has become deeply involved with the British Paralympic sailing. His team came sixth at the Athens Paralym- pics, won the World Championship in both 2005 and 2006 and came sixth at the last Paralympics in Beijing.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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