- In his paper, “The Royal Air Force Regiment – Providing Absolutely Vital ‘Force Protection”, Howard Wheeldon presents through inference and blanket statement that the RAF Regiment is a vital component of our armed forces and our national security. In doing so he conflates somewhat limited airfield security with the global security provided by other elements of our armed forces. His first two paragraphs exemplify this.
“Force Protection isn’t a choice it is an absolute necessity and one that government and those who define the whole culture and stature of UK military power and operation would do well to remember. Force Protection is the single most important element in the concept of air power. Without it, aircraft assets and the people that make possible the deployment of air assets to conflict zones would not be possible without unacceptable risk. The RAF Regiment is there to protect the RAF as a whole in order to allow it to operate and fight in the face of threats.
Looked up to by peer air forces and governments around the globe for the unequivocal leadership it provides across ‘Force Protection’ elements, the RAF Regiment is in my view even more relevant today than on the day it was formed back in February 1942.”
- The Regiment has no role at all in UK’s declared Maritime Defence Strategy or in the maritime deployment of first echelon air assets to conflict zones. To suggest that “such deployments without the support of the Regiment would not be possible without unacceptable risk” is ridiculous and quite without foundation. There is no place for the RAF Regiment in Carrier Strike Group deployments and it is the Group itself that facilitates and protects embarked frontline fighter aircraft squadrons – whether Royal Naval or Air Force.
- “Looked up to by peer air forces …. for the unequivocal leadership it provides across ‘Force Protection’ elements” is a totally unjustified statement. Mr. Wheeldon appears to have selectively forgotten the RAF Regiment’s dreadful performance at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan when they failed to man their lookout post. This led directly to the loss of US Marine Corps lives and aircraft. Their “peer air forces around the globe” will not have forgiven them for that debacle. Perhaps that is why they were not deployed as “trained ‘Force Protection’ elements” during the evacuation of Kabul Airport. Was anyone held accountable for the Camp Bastion failure?
- The Wheeldon Paper shamelessly exaggerates the capability and importance of RAF Regiment participation in combat operations: “the vital ‘Force Protection’ role of the RAF Regiment provides in respect of the military air power concept and operation remains the single most important element of military force protection just as it also plays an equally important yet unsung role in deterrence.” And so, the paper witters on with extraordinary unjustified claims. After continuing to complain about how unappreciated the Regiment is, it comes up with another unbelievable statement:
“As a highly specialist corps whose principle purpose has always been to counter adversaries across a wide spectrum of threats, the RAF Regiment is the beating heart ‘Force Protection’ and ultimate delivery of UK military airpower.”
- In the real world, UK’s military and civilian airfields and other installations such as ports and power stations cannot be protected against the prime military threat of Russian air strikes by a band of gaitered prima donnas who consistently exaggerate their own achievements and importance. In support of the latter statement, the RAF Regiment Rapier missile squadron claimed 23 kills of Argentine enemy aircraft in the Falklands war. Postwar independent and detailed analysis of kills achieved during the conflict confounded this claim. It found that not one kill was achieved by the RAF Regiment squadron – and yet they continued to hold celebration dinners, basking in their own manufactured glory.
- Wheeldon now reveals that the Regiment is being deployed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. There, they will be able to enjoy the expansive array of sporting and social facilities provided by the taxpayer. And they won’t have to “work” for more than 8 hours a day in strict accordance with their single service Harmony rules. Will they also receive Local Overseas Allowances to help them and their families cope with their new relaxed lifestyle?
- If I remember correctly, there have been instances of RAF Non-Commissioned Officers spending up to 17 years at a single RAF UK airfield without serving anywhere else – enjoying the local pub and a civilian lifestyle that contributes very little to our global national security. That is a far cry from the continuous upheaval and family disruption suffered by Royal Navy personnel who serve the nation without complaint in the frontline in less than salubrious conditions and with long separations from their loved ones. Mister Wheeldon would do well to recognize that.
- There would appear to be a lack of balance here.
- Enough said!