Force Protection - The Core Business of the RAF Regiment
"It is easier and more effective to destroy the enemy's aerial power by destroying his nests and eggs on the ground than to hunt his flying birds in the air." - General Giulio Douhet
Put simply, Force Protection is the military term given to a range of measures designed to preserve the combat power of our own forces.
Aircraft, and the personnel, facilities and equipment necessary to maintain and operate them, are particularly vulnerable to attack on the ground. The RAF discovered this to its cost during the Battle of Crete in 1941, when German airborne forces quickly overran lightly defended airfields. The realization that air assets required their own robust defences led to the formation of the RAF Regiment in 1942.
The modern RAF Regiment takes the lead on Force Protection for the RAF. Our squadrons, other units and advisers are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by an successful attack; and ensure that air operations can continue without delay in the aftermath of an attack. RAF Regiment instructors are also responsible for training all RAF personnel in basic Force Protection skills, such as first aid, weapon handling and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) defence.
There are 6 Force Protection Headquarters providing survive to operate command and control for deployed operations. They are an interal part of deployed forces. Currently, the 6 Force Protection Headquarters are:
No 1 Force Protection Headquarters based at RAF Wittering
No 2 Force Protection Headquarters based at RAF Leeming
No 3 Force Protection Headquarters based at RAF Marham
No 4 Force Protection Headquarters based at RAF Lyneham
No 5 Force Protection Headquarters based at RAF Lossiemouth
No 6 Force Protection Headquarters based at RAF Leuchars