England

New RAF recruits graduate at RAF Halton

68 recruits have become the newest airmen and women of the Royal Air Force this year.

The new intake, one of whom is just 16, graduated at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, having completed their Phase One training.

Amongst those graduating from the Recruit Training Squadron was Lyndsey Hallam (22) from Kent. She said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time here. The part of training that I like most was Initial Force Protection Training and the field exercise.”

Lyndsey will now move to Southwick Park to commence training in Personnel Support.

The training at RAF Halton is designed to make fit for Operations by laying in place the foundation stones they will build on throughout their careers.

Group Captain Mark Heffron, Station Commander of RAF High Wycombe, inspected the graduating Intake and accompanied by the Station Commander of RAF Halton and the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire received the salute as a Tucano from 72 Sqn, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, flew overhead.

Group Captain Heffron said: “It’s an honour to review the passing-out of these new airmen into the Royal Air Force. We are now taking only the very best applicants making the selection process tough. The training they have just undertaken is very demanding and many of them will find themselves on Operations soon after they complete their specialist training. These young men and women are the future of the Royal Air Force and I wish each and every one of them the very best of luck in their next stage of training.”

Warrant Officer Recruit Training Squadron, Warrant Officer Paul Wheable, said: “Today has marked the first of many achievements that these new airmen will attain throughout their future in the Royal Air Force. They have been trained and tested both mentally and physically and are now in a position to embark upon specialist training that will prepare them fully for the Operational demands of today’s Armed Forces.”

RAF Halton is in Buckinghamshire where all new airmen recruits, with the exception of RAF Regiment trainees, undergo the basic recruit training course. The nine-week course builds robustness, resilience, discipline, respect and integrity among a range of other military skills.