ANOTHER ROUND OF SATTS SUCCESSFULLY HOLD AT ARMAMENT ENGINEERING FLIGHT (AEF), RAF HONINGTON RTS

Armament Engineering

Flight (AEF) at RAF Honington has now successfully developed, mentored and supported 50 Servicepeople Awaiting Trade Training (SATTs) since beginning the process in February 2021.

Warrant Officer Danks who has led this scheme at Honington, said; “Having the ability to employ SATTs within my area has undoubtably increased the level of support provided by AEF to the Force Protection Force. Identifying numerous engineering, and nonengineering-based tasks that SATTs can complete, has not only directly assisted with AEFs high volume and technical workload, but has also enabled the opportunity to expose the most junior members of the Royal Air Force to day to day life in the Service, encompassing all areas that will soon be the norm, after they all finish their trade training and are assigned on their first posting. Having accommodated Aircraft

Mechanical, Avionic and Weapons trades, the Flt have also actively employed RAF Police, RAF Regt, General Engineering trades and

Computer based specialists within the Flt since Feb 21. Having now wished the best of luck to the latest batch of SATTs, I’m already in the process of engaging with Halton requesting additional SATTs to come to RAF Honington.”

OC RTS; ‘It is a real source of ‘wider RAF’ exposure to us to be able to provide these opportunities to the SATT – opportunities their peers who go straight to Ph2 will not immediately have. Along those same lines, it also gets them away from the Ph1 establishment of RAF Halton into areas where they can gain very real firsthand experience of how the RAF works – the cogs and mechanisms of how we deliver both on home base & on Ops.

Holds are designed to give SATTs meaningful employment whilst they await their specialist training. A hold such as this one at HON evidently goes above and beyond that by developing their GSK and maintains their motivation to serve a military career during what can be a challenging ‘waiting period’ in their career.

The success of this scheme relies entirely on the generosity, time & effort expended by the receiving Unit to provide the best possible experience to the SATT therefore my thanks too in return to RAF Honington. Without LMs such as WO Danks to ensure not just that the SCD oversight is maintained for the SATTs, but that the SATTs gain RAF engineering experience within such a critical training establishment as HON, this hold programme would not experience the success it has.’

Air Specialists Threlfall and Wright (Aircraft Engineers) and Dabski (Non-commissioned aircrew) have just departed AEF, Honington after a very productive period of ‘holding’. AR Threlfall said: “Working in the Armoury as a SATT was a worthwhile experience. I was able to get a first-hand experience of how life in the RAF is. Working in the Armoury has helped me gain some transferrable skills that I will be able to use in further training. Thoroughly enjoyed myself during my time here at RAF Honington.”

AR Wright said: “I have had a great time at RAF Honington on hold, this experience has given me an insight of the real Airforce and what to expect after training. It has been amazing to not only get hands on experience with different types of rifles, but to have met and worked with great hardworking people, as well as taking part and doing jobs, which I wouldn’t be able to do outside of RAF Honington.”

AR Dabski said: “Got a valuable insight into RAF work as well as RAF life, I have taken part in organised sport by taking part in Jujitsu. Played football of an evening with other members of AEF. I have experienced my social function and was able to be a part of a visit from AOC 2 Group. My time at Honington has kept me motivated and interested while on a longer holding period. Also as a future SNCO I got to see different management styles and how to apply them to a real RAF workplace. I have developed workshop experience, hand & tool skills, problem solving and independence.”

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