Employment History

 

July1996 - November 1999 - Royal Air Force Honington, Suffolk

 

​16 Squadron RAF Regiment. This was to be my final posting as by now I'd had enough too! Two more trips to the Falklands and I was ready for demobilisation. As a Warrant Officer in the Falklands my line management responsibilities had increased to 108 personnel. Fiona at home with two children under 5 holding down a Principal Teachers job and me travelling the world for 4 months at a time. Once my 22 years service was over I left to return to civilian life ..... in Brechin.

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June 1990 - July 1996 - Royal Air Force Leuchars, Fife

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27 Squadron RAF Regiment. I was successful in getting a transfer within a year or so to RAF Leuchars and my wife and I lived in Monifieth. I spent 6 years here making frequent trips to the

Falkalnd Islands (Belize had closed by now). It was whilst stationed at Leuchars that I attended my first courses at Dundee College.

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October 1989 - June 1990 - Royal Air Force Brize Norton, Oxfordshire

 

19 Squadron RAF Regiment. Posted on promotion to Flight Sergeant a year later with 19 Squadron in Oxfordshire. Now an increase in responsiblity to 80 personnel.

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August 1988 - October 1989 - Royal Air Force West Raynham, Norfolk

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​Rapier Training Unit. The RAF Regiment's School of Ground Based Air Defence, and I was an instructor there. Result! I was quickly seconded to a small team with responsibilty for helping to bring in to service the next generation of surface to air missile system.

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September 1987 - August 1988 - Royal School of Artillery, Wiltshire

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​Specialist Air Defence Training. This had long been a goal of mine. Following a year long course of study I graduated as an Assistant Instuctor in Gunnery. Degree level study of topics as diverse as aerodynamics, hydraulics, electricty and electronics, and much more. By now my wife had had enough and left the RAF to become a school teacher.

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February 1983 - September 1987 - Royal Air Force Lossiemouth, Morayshire

 

​48 Squadron RAF Regiment. February 1983 saw both my wife and I returning to the UK - Fiona to RAF Kinloss in Morayshire and me to RAF Lossiemouth about 15 miles away. Again, equipped with the Rapier Missile System. Whilst serving with 48 Sqn I achieved two particularly notable events: firstly, I was presented to the Queen; secondly, I was awarded a commendation from the highest levels in the RAF for some work I undertook. Two further trips to Belize followed before I secured a promotion to Sergeant. Now I had an immediate responsibilty for 8 men and exceptionally 32.

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May 1981 - February 1983 - Royal Air Force Laarbruch, West Germany

 

​26 Squadron RAF Regiment. On arrival at Laarbruch I took up my post and had an immediate increase in repsonsibilty - 6 airmen reported to me. My responsibilities for personnel had started in earnest. Within a year of arriving at Laarbruch I found myself in Belize, Central America, guarding the airport with our Rapier missile systems. My friends and colleagues on 63 Squadron had deployed to the Falkalnd Islands as part of the Task Force to defend British interests there.

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February 1980 - May 1981 - Royal Air Force Gutersloh, West Germany

 

​63 Squadron, RAF Regiment. Upon arrival at 63 Squadron RAF Regiment I retrained as a missile systems operator on the Rapier Surface to Air Missile System. Whilst stationed at Gutersloh I took my first steps into supervision and management when I was promoted to Corporal after a 14 week course back at RAF Catterick. An immediate posting to 26 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Laarbruch followed - leaving behind the young lady I had met who was to later become my wife.

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April 1978 - February 1980 - Royal Air Force Uxbridge, Middlesex

 

​Queen's Colour Squadron, RAF Regiment. My first posting and just about as far away from being in the infantry as you can imagine. The Queen's Colour Squadron did all the ceremonial duties. Guarding Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family; guarding heads of state; I took part in the Changing of the Guard on four occasions. The squadron also represented the Royal Air Force at national events such as Remembrance Day, the Cenotaph, air shows up and down the UK and abroad.

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January 1978 - April 1978 - Royal Air Force Catterick, North Yorkshire

 

​Trade Training. The basis on which all work in the trade of RAF Regiment Gunner is that of infantry soldier. Regardless of any specialism after this, it all starts with running. And lots of that! Shooting all kinds of weapons, learning how to fight and survive, to be a soldier!

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November 1977 - January 1978 - Royal Air Force Swinderby, Lincolnshire

 

​Recruit Training. This is where all new recruits went at that time. 6 weeks of being issued with uniforms, learning how to march, lots of physical exercise, learning how to recognise different ranks and much more. Team work, history and tradition all formed part of the "induction" process. And yes, I had my hair cut on day 1!

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