RAF REGIMENT

The need to raise a dedicated specialist force to protect air installations became apparent during WWII when unprotected aircraft on the ground were vulnerable to enemy air and ground attack. Consequently, the RAF Regiment was raised on 1 February 1942 by a Royal Warrant of King George VI. At the end of WWII, there were over 85,000 personnel serving in the RAF Regiment manning 240 operational squadrons.

As of 2011, the strength of the RAF Regiment is some around 2,100 airmen with approximately 300 officers and 500 part-time reservists. The Regiment is generally formed into Squadrons of 100 to 150 personnel. Currently the RAF Regiment exists to provide defence for RAF installations, and to train all the RAF's combatant personnel to enable them to contribute to the defence of their units. RAF Regiment units are under the operational command of No 2 Group.

RAF Regiment Restructuring

In July 2004 it was announced that the role of providing Ground Based Air Defence was to be transferred to the Army and the four Royal Air Force Regiment Rapier squadrons (15 Sqn; 16 Sqn; 26 Sqn and 37 Sqn) were to be disbanded. During May 2008 No 15 Squadron was re-established as a Field Squadron at RAF Honington.

The phased timings associated with this phased programme will allow the Army’s Royal Regiment of Artillery to take over the overall UK Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) in a progressive manner.

As of 1 April 2011, RAF Regiment units are as follows:

Field Squadrons

No 1 Squadron

No 2 Squadron

RAF Honington

Field/Parachute Squadron

Note: Joint CBRN Regiment: No 27 Squadron RAF Regiment provides some of the 244 personnel of the Joint CBRN Regiment alongside two squadrons of the Royal Tank Regiment all of whom are stationed at Honington.

In a restructuring announcement in March 2006 it was announced that rapidly deployable RAF Force Protection elements were being enhanced by integrating elements of the RAF Regiment, RAF Police, Intelligence and Support to deliver a full range of capability from policing and security (including dogs) to close combat. There are RAF Force Protection units at Coningsby, Leuchars, Leeming, Lossiemouth, Lyneham, Marham and Wittering.

Specialist RAF Regiment training for gunners is given at the RAF Regiment Depot at Honington. On completion of training at the RAF College Cranwell officers also undergo further specialist training at RAF Honington and, in some cases, the School of Infantry at Warminster in Wiltshire.

The RAF Regiment also mans the Queen's Colour Squadron (QCS) which undertakes all major ceremonial duties for the Royal Air Force. These duties involve mounting the Guard at Buckingham Palace on an occasional basis, and providing Guards of Honour for visiting Heads of State. The Queen's Colour Squadron also has a war role as a field squadron.

The regiment is not alone in defending any RAF station. Every airman based at a station has a ground defence role and is trained to defend his place of work against ground attack and attack by NBC weapons. Training for this is given by RAF Regiment instructors who provide courses at station level for all personnel on various aspects of ground defence.