As the result of SDSR 2010 and Planning Round 2011 (PR11), the latter of which aligned the Unit establishments to the end of Op HERRICK in Afghanistan, 1 FP Wg and 3 Sqn RAF Regt, both based at RAF Wittering, will be disestablished on 1 Apr 15. The PR11 has provided an opportunity for the FP Force to restructure to ensure best support to the contingency operations and the RAF Future Force structure, aligning the FP Wgs to RAF Expeditionary Air Wgs (EAWs). An RAF Regt presence will remain at RAF Wittering to continue to support training of RAF Wittering stn and its A4 (Logistics and MT support) Force personnel.
The PR11 option reduced the RAF Regt by two RAF FP wg HQs and two RAF Regt field sqns; the first of these, 6 RAF FP Wg and 58 Sqn RAF Regt, disbanded recently. Despite this reduction in size, the RAF Regt and FP Force remain an important enabler for RAF air operations. On completion of the disestablishment of 1 Wg and 3 Sqn RAF Regt the RAF FP Force will retain six deployable FP Wing HQs and associated Regt sqns, supported by five RAuxAF Regt sqns. The RAF Regt will also man 20 Wg RAF Regt, the Defence CBRN Wg based at RAF Honington, including the Wg’s two regular sqns, 26 and 27 Sqns RAF Regt, and 2623 Sqn RAuxAF Regt.
While the PR11 option will result in a saving of 183 posts, there will be no redundancies, since the RAF Regt has held manning gaps since the decision to disestablish two Wgs was made. The 183 personnel will thus be absorbed into the remaining gapped posts across the RAF and FP Force. The vast majority of personnel affected are RAF Regt – TG 8 and Ops Spt (Regt) Branch – although a small number of other RAF trades will be affected.
1 RAF FP Wg and 3 Sqn RAF Regt were selected for disestablishment as the RAF FP Force realigns to best support the RAF’s Future Force structure. A number of factors, including the need for co-location with the RAF’s EAWs, the development of RAF Honington as a Single FP Force Hub supporting the New Employment Model, and ease of access to training estate were all considered before selection of the Wg and Sqn for disestablishment. On present plans, the 3 Sqn RAF Regt Standard will be surrendered for safe keeping to the Rotunda in the College Hall at the RAF College Cranwell, until such time as it may be resurrected by a new unit, or finally laid-up. Arrangements for the ceremonial and social events surrounding the disestablishment in 2015 will be announced at a later date. [CPeN 324]