1 Squadron RAF Regiment

Towards the back end of February, we experienced the first major change to key personnel of this year, with the Squadron waving goodbye to FS Jamie Thorp, and Flight Commanders Owen Davies and Rich Daly. We thank them for their outstanding service and contribution to the Squadron and wish them the very best in the next ventures of their careers. However, as familiar faces depart, fresh-faced ones must arrive to take their place and the Squadron has welcomed 3 new Flight Commanders straight out of JROC, each of them quickly thrust into rewarding and demanding job roles. Flight Lieutenants Lockhart and McIntosh have stepped into the role of Deputy Squadron Commander and Ops Officer respectively, and straight into the deep end, as is the usual case with Squadron life. Both are very welcome additions.

March saw the Squadron deploy to the snowy depths of Kirkcudbright Ranges in Scotland on Exercise CHARIOT STRIKE for a 3-week range package to hone marksmanship and live fire tactical training skills. The Squadron perfected their pairs fire and manoeuvre, Fireteam and Section level attack during the day and night. This type of training is often a highlight, as it is the culmination of many of the soldiering skills required to be a Gunner as well as allowing those in command appointments to hone their skills against dynamically challenging scenarios in a variety of range layouts and enemy positions. The final week saw the opportunity for the gunners to perfect their shooting abilities on some firm favourite weapon systems – the HMG and GMG. A true sight to behold!

With this vital training complete, the Squadron embarked on a well earnt 2-week leave period which unbeknownst to all would be cut short due to the emerging situation in Sudan due to the power struggle between 2 main factions of the military regime. The power struggle between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force known as the Rapid Support Forces has its roots back to 2019 where an uprising ousted a dictatorial ruler Omar al-Bashir. International diplomats in Khartoum warned of the possibility of an outbreak of violence – they would be proven to be correct.

1 Squadron received the greenlight to spin up 2 waves of troops to be sent to RAF Akrotiri for a tasking to Sudan to help with the evacuation of international diplomats, British Nationals, and other entitled personnel known as Op POLARBEAR. The first wave consisting of 18 1 Squadron RAF Regiment personnel were stood up and out the door within 8 hours from the first notice to move – a remarkable achievement.

A second wave consisting of a further 18 personnel were deployed to RAF Brize Norton with a turnaround time of just 40 minutes despite being on 2 hrs notice to move! In Sudan, the tasking consisted of operating in small Air Mobility Protection Teams to protect Air Transport assets in Al Wadi Seidna Airbase, 22 km north of the capital Khartoum, and Port Sudan International