VarSity

First off, these are genuine questions and I am not looking to offend anyone if I am well off the mark, but what does the RAF Regiment do?

Are they tasked with anything more than defending RAF airfields?

What other roles and responsibilities do they have? I have been searching around for some basic info but most of it seems very vague.

Does the RAF Regiment see much combat?

Tarek Morgen

To my knowledge (careful, amateur speaking) their main role was defence against air threats for high value targets, but were also trained to for many other operations. But due the lack of threats of air attacks their role has been modified a few years ago and several of their squads disbanded. They now mainly fulfil the role for ground defence (again for high value targets, or high risk areas) and the role for air defence is now carried out by the royal artillery.

I think the remains of the RAF Regiment are being moved to the new uh "Special Forces Support Group"

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uh I might be wrong

VarSity

Alot of info I can find about the RAF Reg being part of the SFSG seems to be posts by Marines and Para's mouthing off about how the RAF Reg don't deserve to be there.

Surely its the RAF guys who are calling in all the air support? Why does there seem to be so much hostility towards the RAF Reg within the rest of the British Military?

glyn

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Tarek Morgen

the special forces support group I mentioned was started 2005 or 2006 iirc, so they are pretty new, I dont eben know if they are already active.

VarSity

From what I have read, there is a para trained section in the RAF Regiment thats attached to the SFSG along with Royal Marines and guys from the 'real' Para's.

Silent Hunter

They're the only part of the RAF that women can't join, BTW.

dave angel

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)

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VarSity

That's more or less the stuff I have read on other boards.

What I cant understand is this, they seem to fill a role, and get taken the piss out of for it. So they defend a position, who doesn't?
They drive around in stripped down land rovers and have the best kit. So its somehow wrong that they are a highly mobile force by definition, and the RAF spend good money on them? What's wrong with that? Isn't their job to stop any force getting within 150km of an airbase?

As for the big three claims, I can see that getting on peoples nerves. But surely any Para trained force is going to be fairly similar is tactics and training to the 'Real' Para's? And don't they have teams tasked with recovering downed air crew? Something that I assume would normally be conducted behind enemy lines? That all sounds highly professional and effective work to me?

Do they hit airfields like the MOD webby claims? Sounds like something the US Rangers are tasked with to me.

As for their SFSG role, wouldn't this be them supplying all the Forward air controllers?

EDIT: after reading this again it sounds like im trying to defend the RAF Regiment, but honestly the above are real questions. I am trying to read through any and all MOD bull

GunnerUK

To answer some Qs, There is a section that is trained to recover downed aircrew called CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue). 2 Sqn RAF Regt are Para capable. It is also possible to earn wings on other RAF Regt Squadrons. RAF Regt Gunners do get selected for SF roles. There are RAF Regt Gunners are also involved in TACPs and 27SQN Specialise in CBRN. Training also includes FIBUA Tactics - (Fighting In Built Up Areas). This includes clearing various complexes. These are just a few skills within the RAF Regt.

Each SQN has Rifle flights, Sharp Shooters, Support fire (GPMG, 50cal, Mortars etc), Sniper Sections, They are trained to patrol on foot, motorbikes, quadbikes and WMIKs (Weapons Mounted Installation Kits). They are trained in things from defending and attacking airfields to creating TLZs (Tactical Landing Zones). They are kitted out to be a self sustaining unit so if the **** does hit the fan, they will have been trained to deal with all situations thrown at them.

Regardless of if i was in the forces or not, i'd say that it's quite a lot of skills within a small Regiment

T_igger_cs_30

They are there own worst enemies...

They need someone to defend them!!

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FEAR NAUGHT

I don't work here ...I am an analyst!

Officer of Engineers

So the RAF Regt is a career ender?

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Chimo

T_igger_cs_30

VarSity

Lovely little add for the RAF there lol

rocket-dog

This is a good article on Wikipedia. But as some have alluded to above it does bull the regiment up a bit. I think they have avoided the budgetary axe because the organisation produce a good infantry man (comparable to army line regiments.) Also the RAF have had considerable political clout since WWII out of all proportion to their size or effectiveness. Look how many joint organisations are run by the RAF.

NB: As to effectiveness I was alluding to bombing not air-to-air. Nor do I wish to cast any aspersions on the bravery or professionalism of the force's members.