RAF RESERVISTS CALLED UP FOR WAR ON TERRORISM

7 Mar 2002 12:44 PM

Defence Minister, Dr Lewis Moonie, announced today (Thursday 7 March) that there is to be a compulsory call out of up to 49 Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) personnel to assist with the war on terrorism.

Dr Moonie said:

"The Reserves make a vital contribution to our defence capability. In the Strategic Defence Review we reaffirmed our commitment to capable, integrated and relevant reserve forces. The call up of elements of 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Sqn RAuxAF shows that this government is committed to the concept of usable and deployable reservists. I wish them the very best of luck."

Military aircraft are being used to deploy and sustain the main body of UK forces' contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The RAuxAF personnel will primarily backfill regular Royal Air Force personnel deployed to forward airheads as part of the war on terrorism. The Reservists will be drawn from 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Sqn RAuxAF based at RAF Brize Norton and will primarily serve in the UK. But some personnel may be deployed overseas

The Reservists will be called-out for a period of up to six months and will be paid the same rates of pay as regular personnel. In addition, they will receive financial assistance to make up, within certain banded limits, the difference between civilian earnings and the military salary. Reservists and their employers, have the right to seek exemption from, or deferral of, call out under the terms of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and its subordinate legislation. These rights are explained when the call-out notice is issued. Employers will be eligible to claim financial assistance to help cover some of the costs associated with releasing reservists for service.

Wing Commander Malcolm Symonds, CO of 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Sqn RAuxAF said:

"The RAuxAF is part of the RAF's Total Force Concept where regulars, reservists and civilians all work together. We are trained to the same standard as our full-time counterparts, and it is this training which enables my people to be completely interchangeable with regular personnel." End

Note To Editors:

1. No 4624 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was formed in 1982 at RAF Brize Norton to provide a pool of trained Movements personnel to reinforce the Regular Movements organisation and undertake air movements duties in support of the RAF operations worldwide. This includes preparing, positioning and securing loads in aircraft, cargo preparation, passenger handling and specialist vehicle driving.

2. In 1991 the Squadron was mobilised for the Gulf War, when Squadron personnel were deployed to support established movements staff in Theatre and to bases in the UK and Germany. In 1999 the Squadron was mobilised again to support operations in the Balkans; a third of the Operational Flights serving for 6 months with the Regular Movements Squadrons at RAF Brize Norton, RAF Lyneham, Croatia and Kosovo.

3. The Squadron is the largest in the RAuxAF, with an establishment of 300 personnel. Training is conducted at RAF Brize Norton, RAF Lyneham and other Movements units' worldwide. In peacetime the Squadron frequently undertakes movements tasks at home and overseas to enable personnel to gain experience and work directly with their Regular colleagues.

4. For more information, please contact Paul Sykes, MOD Press Office on 0207 218 3257. The MOD website can be found at www.mod.uk