RAF Judo Championships

Earlier this year, 22 Feb 23 to be exact, FS Jay O’Rourke from the Force Protection Training Flight (FPTF), Cpl Adam Melia from the Physical Education Flight (PEd Flt) and AS2 Karis HaughtonBrown from Engineering & Logistics Wing Logistics Supply Flight (ELW LSF) competed in the RAF Judo Championships held at RAF Cosford.

Between Jay and Adam they managed to win every single Mens category, and Karis won Gold in the Women’s senior category (black belt):

• Men’s Senior category (Black Belts) – Cpl Melia – Gold and this year’s Men’s RAF Judo Champion.

• Women’s Senior category – AS2 Haughton-Brown – Gold and this year’s Women’s RAF judo Champion.

• Masters’ category (Over 30s) – FS O’Rourke – Gold and this year’s RAF Judo Champion.

• Ne-Waza (Ground Fighting) –Cpl Melia – Gold and this year’s RAF Judo Champion - FS O’Rourke – Silver this year’s runner up.

All are fully committed to the Sport and have had great success over the last year with each of them all being selected to be part of the prestigious team events at last year’s UK Armed Forces (UKAF) Championships on board HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Karis won Gold as part of the women’s Team and was crowned the UKAF Judo Champions. She went on to compete in the UKAF Team.

Jay won 2 silver medals at interservice level both in the Senior men’s and then master category.

Both Jay and Karis are soon to be awarded their sporting colours, and for his effort Adam achieved his 1st Dan (Black Belt), awarded it on 04 Feb 23.

All are now looking forward to this year’s UKAF Championships in June at Cosford with the RAF hosting the event.

If you would like to take part in RAF Judo all abilities are welcome including beginners, please get in touch with FS O’Rourke from the FPTF for more information.

Beginning his service as a carpenter and welder he has risen through the ranks within the Engineer Profession to be the RAF Benson Engineering Support Squadron Warrant

Officer at RAF Benson. His dedication to service and his team will be missed within the Squadron and the wider Station and we wish him the very best in his retirement from the service.

Mr Richard Wilson 25th Anniversary

Mr Rob Girling

Richard Wilson joined the Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) 25 years ago on 27 Apr 1998, initially as a Chinook Ground School Instructor but soon moved to instruct on Merlin.

Richard taught the entirety of the RAF Merlin aircrew community from their inception in 2002 to finally closing their doors in 2019. He was a key figure in preparing the Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force to continue the Merlin tasking and also taught a myriad of International customers along the way; this has amounted to over 600 trainees.

In late 2019 he turned his attention back to Chinook and over the next 2 years taught 3 long courses and 11 short courses to add to his instructional tally.

He truly acts as a “force multiplier” within the MSHATF as he doubles up his Ground School duties with Instruction in the Merlin Simulator for our International customers.

He is a CRM/Human Factors instructor, Aircraft Performance Specialist, Flight Safety Rep and also shoulders the Publications burden for the MSHATF ensuring we are always up to date and ready for Support Helicopter Aviation Standards.

In short, it is fair to say that Richard’s impact upon the MSHATF, the Merlin and Chinook forces has been immense and profound. Please join all us at the MSHATF in congratulating Richard on achieving such a significant milestone of 25 years and wish him continued success supporting and delivering training in the future.