Open day for air force team

AN open day will be held at RAF Honington later this month for people interested in expanding their horizons and becoming part of the air force's reserve team of airmen.

RAF Honington is currently home to 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron which recently returned from Afghanistan and is hoping the open day on May 11 will boost awareness of their role within the local community.

The squadron works closely alongside 27 Squadron RAF Regiment and personnel alongside their regular counterparts.

The 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron, RAuxAF Regiment, was formed in 1979 at RAF Honington to provide ground defence of the station.

Tasked specifically to prevent Soviet Special Forces from disrupting flying operations, it was an integral part of the station's war-fighting capability for the next 15 years.

Today it has more of a support role but remains crucial to the RAF's mission worldwide. Its airmen hold down full-time jobs as well as attending training weekends once a month.

The regiment also spent six months of last year at Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan, protecting it from enemy attack.

Flight Lieutenant Paul Graham said: “There's a vast array of reasons why people join. One of the things I've heard is that a lot of the guys in their 30s wanted to join when they were younger but they never did. Now they're dipping their toe in the water.”

Reserves are expected to attend eight out of 12 training weekends which are held once a month and pass an annual RAF fitness test

People will also be expected to complete 15 days of continuous training either in the UK or abroad. Recruitment is open to those between 18 and 45.

To find out more or to request an invitation to the open event on May 11 send an e-mail with your name, date of birth and a contact telephone number to Sergeant Roe at recruiting2623@honnington.raf.mod.uk or call the recruiting team on 01359 237672.