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NO 22
(TRAINING) GROUP
Operating approximately 400 training aircraft from seven major sites in
the UK, No 22 Group has an annual budget of almost £700 million and a
core function of training specialist personnel for RAF and, where
appropriate the air and ground crews of the Fleet Air Arm and the Army
Air Corps.
22 Group’s primary responsibilities include the following:
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Recruiting and selection
of individuals wishing to join the Royal Air Force
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Provision of Initial
Officer Training (IOT) at the RAF College Cranwell
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Provision of Basic
Training (BT) for airmen/airwomen at RAF Halton
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Provision of tri-service
flying training for all types of aircraft
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Provision of tri-service
aeronautical engineering training
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Provision of tri-service
communications and information systems (CIS) training
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Operating the The Red
Arrows (The Royal Air Force Acrobatic Team) from RAF Scampton
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Responsibility for the Air
Cadet Organisation
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Responsibility for the 14
x University Air Squadrons
EXPEDITIONARY AIR WINGS
Expeditionary Air Wings (EAW) were created in early 2006 to improve the
ability of the Royal Air Force to support PJHQ’s (Permanent Joint
Headquarters) aim of successful overseas operations. The idea behind the
EAW concept is the provision of a balanced aviation linked force package
related to a particular operation. This force package might include
fighter aircraft, ground attack, in-flight refuelling, RAG Regiment
airbase protection plus engineering and logistic support. When required
a Joint Force Air Component HQ (JFAC HQ) could be deployed in an
overseas theatre to control air operations.
Selected RAF Stations (RAF Coningsby, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Kinloss, RAF
Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Lyneham, RAF Marham and RAF
Waddington) maintain an EAW HQ that can be deployed in various
operational theatres as the requirement arises.
904 EAW currently supports ISAF forces in Afghanistan (OP HERRICK)
The RAF hopes to achieve four principle benefits from the EAW concept:
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Delivery of a more
focussed operational effect from the outset of any deployment
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A more cohesively trained
body of manpower
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A broader understanding of
air power capability
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A more inclusive formation
identity at home and on deployed ops.
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