2622 (Highland) Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, is the most northerly RAuxAF Unit in the United Kingdom and was formed in 1979 to assist with the ground defence of that airfield. Initially, personnel were recruited solely from the local area but recruiting now extends as far south as Edinburgh and Glasgow and to the North, East and West Coasts of Scotland. The Squadron is established for 116 Auxiliary personnel plus a small contingent of regular RAF personnel.
The badge of 2622 (Highland) Squadron, approved in 1985, depicts the Burghead Bull, derived from stone carvings found within the Pictish Fort of Burghead, seven miles west of Lossiemouth. The badge carries the Gaelic Motto "Seasaidh Sinn Ar Tir" which is translated as "We stand our ground". Auxiliary officers of the Squadron are entitled to wear the Grey Douglas tartan kilt as part of their mess uniform, a privilege granted to all Scottish RAuxAF officers by King Edward VIII.
Initial recruiting was fairly rapid and the Squadron soon established a solid training regime. In addition to the Squadron's RAF personnel providing trade expertise and support, a small cadre of auxiliary NCOs worked full-time to ensure that the recruiting and training efforts were delivered successfully. Many of the recruits from the 1980s rose through the ranks and served on through the following decades, providing experience and continuity. Throughout the 1980s the Squadron trained specifically for its role in the defence of RAF Lossiemouth. Although not equipped with the manoeuvrability, protection and firepower of the regular RAF Regiment squadrons, there was certainly an abundance of local knowledge, experience and dedication that could have been brought to bear. A number of personnel also participated in a trial to determine the viability of employing Auxiliaries on the Rapier surface-to-air missile system.
In the 1990s the Squadron provided its first volunteers for operational duties with the RAF Regiment in Bosnia, Cyprus and Kuwait. The number of volunteers grew steadily until 2000, when a total of 13 personnel completed operational tours in Kuwait during the year. In 1996 the Squadron moved from its portakabin headquarters and a hangar shared with the Station Car Club into the hangar and offices vacated by 48 Squadron RAF Regiment on their departure from Lossiemouth. Within 4 years the establishment of 51 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Lossiemouth resulted in another move for the Squadron Headquarters and the establishment of joint Armoury, MT and Supply facilities.
In 1998 Flt Lt John Jackson was posted in as Adjutant and immediately asked how it could be that the Highland Squadron didn't have a Pipe Band. Within a year the Band was formed, and under the direction of FS John Grant it grew in numbers and in quality. Performances at formal and informal functions across the Highlands helped to raise the profile of the Squadron, and Pipe Major Richard Anderson has been in considerable demand for RAuxAF events all over the UK. The band has collected a considerable amount of silverware from competitions at Highland Games and the RAF Pipe Band Championships.
Training during the 1990s became aligned with the need for providing sustainment of the regular RAF Regt field squadrons. The focus on collective training and exercise deployments at flight and squadron level was replaced with much greater emphasis on the maintenance of individual skills and currency. Overseas exercises were conducted in Germany and in the USA – the latter in 1999 as part of an exchange programme with the 421st Ground Combat Readiness Squadron of the USAF, at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
January 2003 saw the first large-scale compulsory mobilisation - for Operation TELIC. The Squadron provided trained manpower to augment the regular RAF Regiment Field Squadrons Since the end of the war-fighting phase of Operation TELIC further members of the Squadron have served with regular RAF Regiment Squadrons at Basrah Air Station, Bosnia, Afganistan and The Falkland Islands. Click here for the Deployment photo gallery.
Proud of its achievements and reputation for excellence, the Squadron has won the coveted Strickland Trophy on more occasions than any other unit and was the first Squadron to win it three times in succession. In addition, the Highland Squadron has also competed in the prestigious Reserve Forces Association International Military Skills Competition, and in 2007 for the First time in the trophies history succeeded in becoming overall champions three years in succession. Sgt Steve Cox lead the team on all three occasions.
Throughout the Squadrons history members have competed at various shooting competitions including Wapinshaw Skill at Arms, where the Squadron is held in high regard adding very desirable silverware to its trophy room. In 2005 at the RAF Regiment Corps Concentration Shooting Competition at Bisley, the squadron shooting team took a creditable 2nd place from both RAuxAF and Regular RAF Regiment Squadrons in the overall competition. Each year Squadron members have represented the RAuxAF in the AFSAAM shooting competition held in the United States. The Squadron has also won the Robins Trophy (awarded to the RAuxAF unit or Squadron which had done the most to improve the good name and efficiency of the RAuxAF) in 1984, 1987, 1997 and 2003.
The Squadron hosted a US team competing in the Strickland competition in 2005. Squadron staff conducted a 10 day programme of training relevant to the competition events. Included in the training was weapon conversion, First Aid, and Minor Tactics. They also practiced some of the physical elements involved with the competition. To read about what the USAF team achieved during their stay 2622 Squadron was presented with its Standard on the 30th September 2006. To view a photo gallery of the day.
In 2007 saw the first deployment from the Squadron to Afganistan where eighteen members deployed on operatons alongside our twin - 51 Squadron RAF Regiment. At the same time we had four people detached to Basrah, making a total of twenty two personnel deployed. This was the largest amount of our troops away at any one time since Gulf War II.
With such a drain on our manpower it was difficult to make the competition teams up, however there was a lot of enthusiam shown by new recruits and a lot of extra training put in. The hard work reaped benefits when our teams won the major trophies in all the competitions entered. The United Kingdom Reserve Forces Accociation Competition at Altcar was won by the 2622 team for an unpresidented third time. The shooting team cleaned up at Bisley and swept the board at Wapinshaw.
Also in this year The Pipes and Drums were not to be outdone by their Military conterparts, they were also picking up trophies and awards for their musical skills. They were also in demand to play at varied formal and informal events including charity work within the RAF and the local community.