RAF Regiment

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co...after-raid-on-factory

I always thought that the primary objective for the RAF regiment, was to guard airfields.

Are we that short of troops out in Afghanistan, that they are now being deployed in what are primary Army Infantry tasks?

[tamborine]

they're waiting for helicopters? Burning a gun doesn't make it un-usable....cutting & smashing would.

Surely they dont need me to tell them that?

[sherminator]

I have a mate who is an engineer in RAF and he has been deployed twice. He volunteered though and i think, think that its not compulsory. He just went over to stand guard at bases and was never sent out on duty like a soldier would be.

But there is the RAF regiment so maybe they can get deployed but wouldn't know bout them.

sorry not much use!

[buildersmate]

And I always thought that you had formerly been in the Forces, AOG.
So this is either a wind-up or you haven't.
Most guarding these days (out of combat zones) is done by the MOD Guard Service, a civilian organisation. Where the asset being guarded demands folks with guns standing at the gates, that is often done by the Provost Service - again civilian but able to carry guns. Mostly staffed by ex-Service personnel. Sometimes these groups are supplemented by real Service personnel working shifts, who detest the job.
So its many years since the RAF Regiment did that sort of work.
The RAF Regiment now is the administration arm of the RAF. If one is in the RAF by not involved in flying and not involved in engineering, one is likely to be in the RAF Regiment. They have all manner of specialisms, but like any other Service personnel, are trained to be fighting troops.

[rov1200]

I was also confused when the new contingent of US forces are the marines. I thought marines used boats etc?

[buildersmate]

You'll be telling us next that you thought that Paratroops (Paras) flew planes, Rov.
The Marine Commandos are the crack fighting force of the Royal Navy. Ditto other countries. They are fighters, just like any other soldiering force, though they also specialise in marine assaults.

[mollykins]

Isn't there people in the navy in afganistan. wasn't the first female to get one of the crosses (the one that you get during combat in face of enemy) in the navy.

[rov1200]

According to your logic buildersmate we could see the British Army patrolling the Perisan Gulf in the not to distant future. I hope they can walk on water.

How come you never reached the status of builder? No, don't tell me!

[anotheoldgit]

buildersmate

I am indeed ex-RAF, and I think I am more qualified than you on this subject.

You state that most guarding these days (out of combat zones) is done by the MOD Guard Service, a civilian organisation.

Well have you ever been to a RAF or Army depot? You will notice that there are armed service personnel on the gates, even those out of combat zones.

It may be many years since I was in the RAF, but I don't think the primary roll of the RAF Regiment or (Rock Apes as they where called) has changed.

Their main roll is to guard the airfield, the planes, equipment and staff. Below is a excerpt from a footnote of a photograph, which showed members of No1 Squadron at Kandahar Airfield..

/// Members of No 1 Squadron RAF Regiment who have been defending Kandahar Airfield, its aircraft and the thousands of Coalition Forces personnel operating there.///

[Booldawg]

Entry control security of MOD bases tends to be split between the Civilian MGS and armed troops. The MGS usually do the paperwork eg signing in visitors, issuing vehicle passes etc whilst the troops are there purely for an armed presence. Both outfits conduct perimeter patrols, building checks etc.

[dothawkes31]

when we were in the RAF the regiment was based on Gibraltar I think.

[dothawkes31]

I'm sure the MR team used to refer to them as rockapes

[buildersmate]

As usual, AOG, you excel yourself with out-of-date information. Tomorrow morning I shall back into a major DE&S location with an RAF name (it is no longer an airfield). It has no Service Personnel guarding the gates and no Provost Guard service either with guns, but it is stuffed full of tri-service personnel at work.
I counted the number of RAF and Army bases I'd been to in the last 12 months (let alone the ones I've ever been to) and it numbers more than a dozen (that's excluding the Crab ones around Portsmouth and Devonport, of course).
You really don't realise what you are up against, pal.

[buildersmate]

They may well do at Kandahar - that I don't know. They have no reason to at Camp Bastion or all the other places where the RAF fly into (e.g. Kabul) where other coalition forces do it.
I specifically explained the context of my answer - given AOG wasn't specific.
The bloke admits having been in the RAF and yet knows nothing about military strategy or tactics.
I don't suffer certain categories of individuals - either gladly or in any other orientation, come to that.