RAF bases

Question 1

RAF HIGH WYCOMBE

Answer 1

HQ Air Command - controls, directs and administers all RAF operations. The brain of the RAF, from here senior officers direct all RAF operations, set policy and allocate resources.

Question 2

RAF BRIZE NORTON

Answer 2

Largest RAF base. Strategic/tactical transport & air to air refuelling (C-17 Globemaster, A400M Atlas, and Voyager)

Question 3

RAF LOISSIEMOUTH

Answer 3

QRA - North Typhoons; Posideon maritime patrol; future Wedgetail AEW

Question 4

RAF CONINGSBY

Answer 4

QRA South Typoons; major Typhoon base; Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Question 5

RAF WADDINGTON

Answer 5

ISTAR HUB- Rivet Joint, Shadow, drones (Protector); global surveillance & recon

Question 6

What is PJHQ at Northwood Headquarters

Answer 6

This is the UKs operational headquarters for oversees joint operations (involving two or more services (army, Navy, RAF). It plans, commands ands controls UK military operations abroad (e.g deployment to middle east, humanitarian missions, NATO ops)

Question 7

PJHQ (Permanent Joint HQ)

Answer 7

Northwood Headquarters

Question 8

JFIG (Joint Forces Intelligence Group)

Answer 8

RAF Wyton, part of DI (Defence Intelligence)

Question 9

Difference between PJHQ and JFIG?

Answer 9

JFIG produces intelligence - it is all about the collecting and processing of specialist intelligence

PJHQ uses that intelligence to run operations - it is all about using intelligence from DI/JFIG/GCHQ/MI6/Allies to run operations abroad.

Question 10

Phase 2 training

Answer 10

Defence School of Intelligence based at Chicksands, Bedfordshire

Question 11

Where could you be sent as a junior Int officer? (4)

Answer 11

Posted to a frontline or operational unit e.g

Fast-jet station at RAF Coningsby or RAF Lossiemouth - supporting Typhoon operations, mission planning, air defence

ISTAR hub at RAF Waddington - Rivet Joint, Shadow, or drones

Air mobility at Brize Norton - less common but possible supporting global air transport operations.

Oversees detachments - could be deployed to support NATO ops.

Question 12

Which 2 kind of postings would usually come later?

Answer 12

Defence Intelligence or PJHQ Northwood - these are more mid-career jobs

Specialist joint units usually come later (cyber, DIs deep analysis)