RAF Want A Whole Force Approach

New reserve and regular recruits to train together.

The Royal Air Force are working to intergrate reserves and regular recruits.

This week 36 new reserve recruits started their basic training with the regular recruits as part of the Government Future Reserve 2020 Strategy. 

The £1.5 billion investment into the RAF hopes to recognise the wide range of skills reservists bring to the force.

Officer Commanding Training Wing at RAF Halton, Wing Commander Jason Chalk said: "Ultimately we deploy together, so it makes sense that we train and graduate together as well. I think it helps both Reserves and the Regulars understand each other and recognise the skills and the qualities that they bring are exactly the same. We require exactly the same standard of the Reserves as we do for the Regulars. It's all about knowing that when you go on operations together, you can rely on the person next to you."

Those training at Bramley had the chance to hone a range of skills, including patrolling and living on ration packs. Aircraftman Sarah Holland, 31, from Blackpool, works as a retail manager for Sainsbury's and has recently joined the RAF Reserves to train as an Intelligence Analyst. She said: "I think it's important that we train together to have that respect and confidence with each other regardless of whether you are Regular or Reserve. At the end of the day we are all qualified to do the same job."

Group Captain Adrian Burns, Station Commander RAF Halton said: "We need to meet the challenges of the future, and enabling Regular and Reserve personnel to train together is an important part of that process. I cannot underestimate how proud it makes me to help deliver the whole force to the RAF"