More about this squadron

7010 (VR) Photographic Interpretation Squadron provides Intelligence Analysts (Imagery) to support the RAF’s reconnaissance units at home and on operations. Even though we are headquartered with the other Reserve Intelligence Squadrons at RAF Waddington, most of our training takes place elsewhere.

We recruit from all over the UK and currently have members living as far afield as Scotland, Wales, the South West and Kent. You do not need any specialist skills to join, although good IT skills are essential. As well as the standard Reservist selection tests, candidates also have to undertake a specialist imagery aptitude test.

We train only at weekends. Our training takes place at the Defence College of Intelligence at Chicksands in Bedfordshire, as well as our two operational Flights at the Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing (RAF Marham, Norfolk) and at the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (RAF Brampton, Cambridgeshire). It normally takes 18 to 36 months before a new recruit is fully fit for role.

History and heritage

Today’s squadron has evolved from the 7010 Flight RAF Volunteer Reserve which was formed in 1953. This makes our squadron one of the RAF Reserves’ longest continuously operating units.

Our Reservists were first deployed in 1992 to support Operation Warden, and we have been deploying Reservists ever since.

Roles and specialist skills

As an Intelligence Analyst (Imagery), you will be required to analyse aerial imagery obtained from reconnaissance aircraft and other sensors. You will typically be working in a small team on an imagery exploitation system (a computer workstation running software similar to Photoshop), either in an office-style environment or in an air-conditioned cabin. A typical task will involve you analysing recently obtained imagery to answer specific questions posed by military commanders. You will then produce an intelligence report containing both text and annotated digital images. Because exploitation tasks have to be done to a tight deadline, you need a very good aptitude for the work.

Recent deployments

In recent years, our Reservists have been deployed for tours of between two and six months, mainly in Afghanistan, Italy and the UK. This has mostly involved supporting Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing detachments, Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre, or a deployed RAF headquarters. There have also been exercises in the UK, the Middle East, mainland Europe, Turkey, Canada and Australia.

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