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RAF Structure

The RAF carries out tasks given to it by the democratically elected Government. Its main job is to help defend the interests of the UK, which consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This may involve service overseas as part of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Force or any other multi-national deployment. Service personnel may also be deployed on United Nations (UN) operations and used to help in other emergencies. The list below shows how a Service personnel, squadrons and units fits into the RAF and how the RAF is controlled by Government.

• The Queen
• The Government
• Parliament
• Ministry of Defence (MOD)
- Secretary of State for Defence
- Ministers

• Chief of the Air Staff
• Air Force Board
• Air Command
• Groups
1 Gp – ‘To generate and develop effective Combat Air Power’
2 Gp – ‘To Project, Protect and Support’ Force Elements on Operations and Exercises Worldwide
22 Gp – ‘Recruits RAF personnel and provide trained specialist personnel to the RAF and other two Services.

•    RAF Stns and Units (about 5000 people)
•    Wings (about 300 people)           
•    Squadrons (about 120 people)  
•    Flights (about 30 people)

[There are also 12,500 RAF personnel under Air Command who fall outside this general structure and form the ‘diaspora’]

Since 1949 the UK has belonged to NATO. NATO aims to provide a common defence for its members in both Europe and further afield. British troops also serve in Germany, Brunei, Cyprus, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. In addition the RAF are deployed on operations world-wide, for instance to the Middle East.

Commissioned Ranks

MRAF       Marshal of the Royal Air Force
ACM         Air Chief Marshal
AM           Air Marshal
AVM         Air Vice Marshal
Air Cdr     Air Commodore
Gp Capt   Group Captain
Wg Cdr    Wing Commander
Sqn Ldr    Squadron Leader
Flt Lt        Flight Lieutenant
Fg Off      Flying Officer
Plt Off      Pilot Officer
APO        Acting Pilot Officer

Non-Commissioned Ranks

WO       Warrant Officer
CT        Chief Technician
FS         Flight Sergeant
Sgt       Sergeant
Cpl      Corporal
JT        Junior Technician
SAC     Senior Aircraftman
LAC     Leading Aircraftman

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