A group of 68 recruits have become the newest airmen and women of the Royal Air Force this year.

Marching onto the parade square at RAF Halton the airmen aged from 16 year upward graduated in front of friends and family members having completed their Phase One training.

Amongst those graduating from the Recruit Training Squadron was Lyndsey Hallam (22) from Kent. She said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time here. The part of training that I like most was Initial Force Protection Training and the field exercise.” Lyndsey will now move to Southwick Park to commence training in Personnel Support.

The training at RAF Halton is designed to take the new recruit and transform him into an airman fit for Operations by laying in place the foundation stones they will build on throughout their career.

Group Captain Mark Heffron, Station Commander of RAF High Wycombe, inspected the graduating Intake and accompanied by the Station Commander of RAF Halton and the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire received the salute as a Tucano from 72 Sqn, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, flew overhead.

Group Captain Heffron said: “It’s an honour to review the passing-out of these new airmen into the Royal Air Force. We are now taking only the very best applicants making the selection process tough. The training they have just undertaken is very demanding and many of them will find themselves on Operations soon after they complete their specialist training. These young men and women are the future of the Royal Air Force and I wish each and every one of them the very best of luck in their next stage of training.”

Warrant Officer Recruit Training Squadron, Warrant Officer Paul Wheable, said: “Today has marked the first of many achievements that these new airmen will attain throughout their future in the Royal Air Force. They have been trained and tested both mentally and physically and are now in a position to embark upon specialist training that will prepare them fully for the Operational demands of today’s Armed Forces.”

RAF Halton is in Buckinghamshire where all new airmen recruits with the exception of RAF Regiment trainees undergo the basic recruit training course. Carefully structured, the nine-week course builds robustness, resilience, discipline, respect and integrity amongst a raft of other military skills.

Editor: Flt Lt S Higgins

Photography:

AC Hallam marches onto the parade square with her peers to Graduate from the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton.

RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2012.