RAF100 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

Transcription

1 RAF100 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

2 100 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Our Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918, at a time when aviation was still in its infancy. As the world s first independent air force, we have set the standards for other nations to follow. During our first century, generations of professional, highly trained RAF personnel and leading-edge technology have continually proved to be a winning combination. Our Roundel is recognised around the world as being synonymous with capability, courage and innovation. We are rightly proud of our illustrious history of excellence in delivering air and space power, and of the men and women who are central to our many achievements. In our Centenary year, we invite the Nation and our international partners to join us in commemorating with respect, celebrating with pride and inspiring future generations. COMMEMORATE The RAF s Centenary year provides us with a unique opportunity to commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who have gone before. We remember the extraordinary courage, dedication, excellence and professionalism that our people have demonstrated time and again - from two World Wars, through the Cold War and the Falklands, to more recent conflicts in the Middle East. The strength and resilience of previous generations have provided a benchmark for the Servicemen and Servicewomen who have followed them. Innovation and improvement have been constant themes throughout our history of delivering air and space power for the UK. We have evolved continually to meet emerging strategic challenges adopting new technologies and operating methods. Our ability to adapt quickly is one of our greatest strengths. CELEBRATE Today, the RAF remains part of the Nation s first line of defence. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protect Britain and its interests in an increasingly uncertain world, delivering on operations wherever we are tasked. We work closely with the Royal Navy and the British Army to conduct efficient and effective joint operations. We are a force for good. Our global reach enables us to quickly undertake humanitarian aid and disaster relief tasks anywhere in the world. And when the need arises, we will support British civil authorities in times of natural disaster or other emergencies. The Centenary is a unique opportunity for the Whole Force of regulars, reserves, civilians and contractors and the wider RAF Family - to celebrate as one. Our first 100 years of excellence is a remarkable milestone one that we should all feel proud to celebrate. INSPIRE Our 100th year is also a time to look forward to the Service of the future - to the next century of air power delivered by exceptional people working together. Focussing on our people, our Centenary year represents a once in a generation opportunity to reach out and inspire the Whole Force of tomorrow. Individually and collectively, we have a vital role to play as proud ambassadors for our Service - demonstrating the skills, qualities and professionalism that will attract a young, diverse and dynamic future workforce. The leading edge technologies we employ today are often far beyond what could have been imagined just a few decades ago. Our innovative and pioneering predecessors have brought us so far in our first century and the future is now in our hands. Think about how the RAF will continue to evolve in the next 100 years - and the part that you can play in helping to shape that evolution. WHAT IS RAF100? The RAF100 campaign will run from late 2017 to September 2018, to commemorate and celebrate our Centenary and to inspire our next generation. It will combine a range of international, national, regional and local events and initiatives, supported by media and communications activity to raise awareness, deepen understanding and enhance our reputation. RAF100 will showcase the very best of the RAF - with commemorative air shows and celebratory concerts, RAF Centenary-themed regional events and opportunities for the public to meet us through a tour of static aircraft to major UK cities. One of the highlights will be a Centenary service in Westminster Abbey, with a parade in the Mall, a mass fly-past and a consecration of a new Queen s Colour for the RAF on 10 July This will be followed by a Royal Review of Her Majesty s Aircraft at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford on 13 July P1

3 These impressive public events form just part of our year of celebration. RAF100 is about celebrating our story - where we ve been, where we are now and where we are heading in the future. Our people - past, present and future - are at the heart of our Centenary year. We want the Whole Force and wider RAF Family to feel proud to take part in our celebrations. The passion and enthusiasm of our people is vital to engaging the public and attracting a new generation of young men and women to join our Service. To inspire our next generation, we are placing particular emphasis on our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), youth engagement and sports activities during RAF100. This includes targeted aerospace education packages and experiences for primary and secondary schools, a Scouts aerospace badge and RAF100 involvement in key national and international sporting events taking place in This is an important part of the legacy that we want from the RAF100 campaign - to inspire a new generation by showcasing the incredible opportunities that exist in the Royal Air Force now, and in the future. It s not just about attracting new people - it s also about recognising the skills and talents of the young men and women who have recently joined the Service and are forging new careers. For this next generation, the legacy of RAF100 is the opportunity that it provides for them to write the next chapter in our astonishing history - with pride, passion and innovation at the heart of everything they do. RAF100 APPEAL The charities associated with the Royal Air Force have a proud tradition of providing ongoing support to former Service Personnel and their dependants when they need it most as well as providing help to the next generation. RAF100 provides great opportunities to raise additional funds for the wider RAF Family and related charitable causes. To maximise the opportunities that our Centenary year brings, the RAF100 Appeal is being run as a joint venture between: The Royal Air Force The RAF Association The RAF Benevolent Fund The RAF Charitable Trust The RAF Museum All of the fundraising undertaken during RAF100 will be coordinated by the joint venture, with the money raised shared between the four charities. HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? No matter who you are a regular or a reserve, a civilian or a contractor, an Air Cadet or a veteran - you can play a part in making our Centenary a special year. Many of our people will be involved in making our big public events a success, others in organising small, local celebrations. The size of the event doesn t matter what s important is that we come together as one Force to proudly share our inspiring story with the Nation and beyond. The RAF100 Website contains details of all the major events that are planned for RAF100 and information on how to get involved at a local, regional and national level. Detailed communications will increase as we approach the start of the Centenary year, with senior leaders encouraging their people to support the RAF100 campaign. To make RAF100 truly extraordinary, we all need to understand and embrace the significance of this moment within the Service. We must therefore make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to share our successes, promote our capability and inspire a new generation to propel our Royal Air Force into its second century. We won t get another chance like the one that presents itself next year and we have a duty to ourselves and the Nation to make it a year to remember. "We want the Whole Force and wider RAF Family to feel proud to take part in our celebrations." P2

4 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS P3

5 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. HOW LONG WILL THE RAF100 CAMPAIGN LAST? A. Preparations for our Centenary year have been in development since 2015 and RAF100 will launch officially in late The main events will take place between 31 March 2018 and September A time-line for the campaign can be viewed on the RAF100 website. Q. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RAF100? A. The RAF100 website contains lots of information about the campaign, including details of the major events that are planned and ideas on how people can get involved. As the RAF100 launch approaches in Autumn 2017, we ll be establishing a regular rhythm of communication both centrally and at a local level through Station Commanders and MCOs. Look out for features and articles in the RAF News and Station Magazines, messages on the Intranet, Town Hall events and local updates. Don t wait until you re told to do something start a conversation now with your colleagues about what you can do to support RAF100 where you are. Q. HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? A. The RAF100 website contains details of all the major events that are planned for RAF100 and information on how to get involved at a local, regional and national level. Detailed communications will increase as we approach the start of the Centenary year, with senior leaders encouraging their people to support the RAF100 campaign. Q. WILL THERE BE A LEAVE BAN IMPOSED DURING THE MAJOR RAF100 EVENTS NEXT YEAR? A. There are no plans to impose a blanket leave ban during the RAF100 campaign, but it is recognised that in the run up to major events, particularly the parade and flypast scheduled for 10 July 2018, demands on manpower will be significant. Careful management will, therefore, be required and local commanders will be expected to exercise appropriate discretion. Q. WILL I BE EXPECTED TO WORK AT WEEKENDS AND IN MY FREE TIME? A. Delivering public events on the scale we are planning will inevitably result in some people working over weekends and in their free time. For many of us, this is nothing out of the ordinary and, as the Chief of Air Staff has said: We have a duty to make the Centenary of our Service extraordinary. It s important to remember why our Centenary is so important to commemorate the memory of those who have gone before, to celebrate those who are serving now and to inspire the Force of the future. Q. HOW ARE RAF100 ACTIVITIES FUNDED? A. The finance for RAF100 comprises a mixture of public funding and 2.4m from a successful bid to HM Treasury for LIBOR funds. LIBOR funding comes from fines that the Government imposed on the banking industry for manipulating the LIBOR rate. The funds can be accessed by military and emergency services charities and other good causes. Our successful bid for funds reflects the Government s enduring support for the Royal Air Force in our Centenary year. To support local station-level activities during RAF100, a fund has been established for local community engagement. Some of the money will be made available on a pro-rata basis with the remainder allocated throughout the Service via a bidding process. The approach to travel and subsistence costs in relation to RAF100 activity is under consideration. The finances for RAF100 will come under intense public scrutiny and there will be a comprehensive audit trail for all RAF100 activity. Q. SOME ELEMENTS OF PHASE 1 AND 2 TRAINING WILL PAUSE DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAJOR RAF100 ACTIVITIES. IS IT THE SAME FOR PHASE 3 TRAINING? A. No there is no expectation for Phase 3 training establishments to interrupt their training activities. Q. WHERE IS THE MANPOWER REQUIREMENT BEING IDENTIFIED? A. The overall manpower requirement is being managed and directed through A1 Ops in line with standard manpower generation processes. P4

6 Q. WILL A MEDICAL EMPLOYMENT STANDARD (MES) BE ASSIGNED TO THE MAIN PARADE IN LONDON ON 10 JULY 2018? A. A1 Ops will specify whether this is a requirement closer to the time (TBC). Q. WHO IS DEALING WITH SECURITY FOR THE MAIN RAF100 EVENTS? A. The Provost Marshal has overall responsibility, working closely with Regional Police Forces and other security agencies. Q. WHY IS THE RAF100 LOGO RED AND NOT LIGHT BLUE CAN IT BE CHANGED? A. The RAF100 logo was endorsed by the Air Force Board Executive (AFBEx). The logo was designed to have maximum visual impact in a range of different settings - red was found to be the most effective colour. Although within Defence, some might associate red with the Army, this is certainly not an issue for the general population and besides, our iconic RAF display team, the Red Arrows, are red! The RAF100 logo is now locked down and won t be changed. Q. THERE WILL BE A LARGE STATIC AIRCRAFT DISPLAY ON HORSE GUARDS PARADE AND IN OTHER CITIES. WHAT ABOUT REAPER? A. A selection of iconic and representative aircraft are planned to visit a number of our major cities. We are still deciding which aircraft will be displayed, depending on availability and any relevant security constraints. Q. ARE THERE GOING TO BE OTHER THINGS ON SHOW? AIR FRAMES ARE COVERED, BUT WHAT ABOUT TRANSPORT? A STRIPPED DOWN ENGINE? A FIELD KITCHEN? A. We intend to showcase a wide range of equipment and trades which will be included subject to space and availability of kit and the manpower to support it. Q. WHAT INPUT ARE THE AIR CADETS AND RESERVISTS HAVING? A. The Air Cadets and wider reserve cadre will be fully involved in both supporting and celebrating at RAF100 events. Q. IS THERE ANY SCOPE FOR EVENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND? A. There is already a schedule of events being planned and arranged by Air Officer Northern Ireland. Details are still to be confirmed and will be shared nearer the time. Similarly, Air Officer Scotland and Air Officer Wales are also leading on events in their own regions. Q. WILL THERE BE RESOURCES FOR THE LOGISTICAL ELEMENT OF MAJOR RAF100 EVENTS? BACKFILL OF MT ETC.? A. Yes. A comprehensive logistics plan is being developed, which will address key backfill requirements. Q. WHY ARE WE HAVING SUCH A BIG PARADE AND FLY PAST? A. The Centenary is something about which we should all feel proud. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the RAF s people and celebrate our illustrious history and achievements on behalf of the nation. We are known for the high standard of our public displays and it is right that we should commemorate and celebrate in this way. POINTS OF CONTACT TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT Defence Intellectual Property Rights (DIPR) Ministry of Defence MOD Abbey Wood Bristol BS34 8JH Dipr-cc@mod.uk AIR M&C Media Projects and Digital Head: Mr Mike Drewett mike.drewett328@mod.gov.uk RAF100 STEM Lead: Mr Ollie Omar oliver.omar100@mod.gov.uk RAF100 Historical Lead: Mr Joe Sterry joseph.sterry100@mod.gov.uk RAF100 Digital Lead: Ms Sally Taft sally.taft100@mod.gov.uk USEFUL LINKS The Defence Brand Portal: P5