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dave angel · 11-08-2007, 10:17 AM

you will hear very little 'good' about the RAF Regiment, both for objective and subjective reasons.

without doubt the worst thing is they describe themselves, both to other services and within the RAF, as 'one of the big three' - the others being the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines. however, their role, their training and their operational experience makes a mockery of this somewhat bold public statement.

in Iraq they are ridiculed by the moniker given them by pretty much everyone else in theatre - the Short Range Patrol Group - (a less than complementary comparrison to the 'Long Range Patrol Group' of great fame in the North African war and sort of predessor of 22SAS), because, well, their role is to stand around guarding things. they do go out into the badlands occasionally, but only as a tool of last resort and its so newsworthy that each 'outside the wire' job that they do gets spashed over the RAF's publicity machine.

they fullfill this somewhat less than glamourous role while carrying the most fearsome array of weapons and while driving around in stripped Landrovers that have been modified to be not unreminiscient of those used by 22SAS on their long range, deep penetration (and very dangerous) recce and strike missions in western Iraq in both Gulf wars.

uber-walts (as an organisation, i'm aware that not every rock makes such a **** of themselves in this way) i'm afraid, they do a job that any TA infantry unit could do - and does under vastly more unpleasent and dangerous conditions - and they then have the temmerity to 'big-up' themselves as one of the most capable units of the forces.

their other role, that of (attempting) to train other members of the RAF - not the most war-like organisation in the world - in basic ground defence techniques, use of weapons and NBC training - sadly makes the tendency to walt worse.

they are involved in the SFSG but only 'coz theres no other bugger sat around drinking tea and doing fcuk all while being plastered in gucci kit.

(it would now be traditional for some enraged rock-ape to come screaming in and to make out that 22SAS is filled with people who failed selection for the RAF Regiment)

11-08-2007, 10:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
dave angel *Military Professional* Join Date: 11-05-04 Location: Glasgow Posts: 756 Country:	you will hear very little 'good' about the RAF Regiment, both for objective and subjective reasons. without doubt the worst thing is they describe themselves, both to other services and within the RAF, as 'one of the big three' - the others being the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines. however, their role, their training and their operational experience makes a mockery of this somewhat bold public statement. in Iraq they are ridiculed by the moniker given them by pretty much everyone else in theatre - the Short Range Patrol Group - (a less than complementary comparrison to the 'Long Range Patrol Group' of great fame in the North African war and sort of predessor of 22SAS), because, well, their role is to stand around guarding things. they do go out into the badlands occasionally, but only as a tool of last resort and its so newsworthy that each 'outside the wire' job that they do gets spashed over the RAF's publicity machine. they fullfill this somewhat less than glamourous role while carrying the most fearsome array of weapons and while driving around in stripped Landrovers that have been modified to be not unreminiscient of those used by 22SAS on their long range, deep penetration (and very dangerous) recce and strike missions in western Iraq in both Gulf wars. uber-walts (as an organisation, i'm aware that not every rock makes such a **** of themselves in this way) i'm afraid, they do a job that any TA infantry unit could do - and does under vastly more unpleasent and dangerous conditions - and they then have the temmerity to 'big-up' themselves as one of the most capable units of the forces. their other role, that of (attempting) to train other members of the RAF - not the most war-like organisation in the world - in basic ground defence techniques, use of weapons and NBC training - sadly makes the tendency to walt worse. they are involved in the SFSG but only 'coz theres no other bugger sat around drinking tea and doing fcuk all while being plastered in gucci kit. (it would now be traditional for some enraged rock-ape to come screaming in and to make out that 22SAS is filled with people who failed selection for the RAF Regiment) __________________ before criticizing someone, walk a mile in their shoes.................... then when you do criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.