More about this squadron

7006 Squadron originally had a single role: providing linguists to support the RAF’s international operations. Nowadays, our Reserve forces support the regular RAF and NATO by providing intelligence analysis and briefings.

History and heritage

In 1958, the RAF formed a volunteer Reserve force to provide a pool of Russian linguists for intelligence duties. In 1972, the unit moved on from a purely linguistic role to providing information officers for intelligence analysis and briefings on major NATO exercises. This development saw the first non-linguists employed.

In 1986, a dedicated Volunteer Reserves Intelligence Unit (7006 Flight RAF Volunteer Reserves) was created at RAF High Wycombe.

Following the amalgamation of the Reserves and the Volunteer Reserves in 1997, 7006 Flight became the squadron as we know it today, 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron. We are now headquartered with the other RAF Reserves Intelligence Squadrons at RAF Waddington.

Roles and specialist skills

As an intelligence analyst, you will obtain, analyse and present different forms of intelligence supporting our aircraft and other military assets. You will brief and debrief aircrews or work in headquarters as a member of a team of analysts. You will become an expert at sifting through various sources of data to provide useful intelligence. Presenting to audiences, analysing and deductive thinking are therefore crucial skills.

Recent deployments

Our Reservists have supported numerous RAF operations, assisting other RAF squadrons both at their bases and while deployed overseas. This includes deployments to Kuwait and the Gulf, Cyprus and the USA.

More recently, a significant number of our Reservists have been mobilised to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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