Global Enablement

RAF Global Enablement provides the critical capabilities required to enable, maintain and sustain global air operations.

Global Enablement consists of 8000 individuals, including Officers, Aviators, Gunners and Civil Servants. Their main responsibility is to provide the specialised skills needed to support the global operations of the RAF's Air and Space capabilities.

Commander

Air Commodore Paul T Hamilton MBE MA RAF

Commissioned into the RAF in November 1999, Hamilton deployed on numerous tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hamilton was responsible for planning and executing a counter terrorism operation in East Africa.

On promotion Hamilton worked in a Force Protection (FP) Commitments role where he oversaw the final stages of Operation TELIC. As Commander No 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, he was awarded the Queens Commendation for Valuable Service after a short notice deployment to South Sudan on Operation JINGLER.

Hamilton took on a role in J3 FP at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ). Followed by commanding No 7 FP Wing at RAF Coningsby, seeing him deploy on Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 and subsequently the FP Pillar lead for the RAF’s reintegration into NATO CAPEVAL.

On promotion to Group Captain in 2020 he went back to PJHQ as DACOS J3 where he oversaw the UK’s response to COVID on operations, Operation PITTING and Ukraine. Hamilton then moved to MOD where he led the military team overseeing Africa.

Hamilton has recently been Station Commander at RAF Leeming with Regional responsibilities for the North England. He is now Commander Global Enablement as an Air Commodore.

Married to Holly and he has two children, Helena and James. Hamilton is a keen athlete who has represented the RAF at boxing and is now a keen middle-distance cyclist.

"RAF Global Enablement is at the heart of delivering air and space power worldwide. Through innovation, collaboration, and a relentless focus on excellence; our operators enable the RAF to remain agile, resilient, and ready to fly and fight, wherever and whenever we are needed".

Air Commodore Paul T Hamilton
Commander Global Enablement

Force elements

Global Enablement is built around six different forces. These forces work together to train and operate in a way that ensures the RAF and Defence have highly prepared forces that can be quickly deployed when needed.

90 signals unit

90 Signals Unit perform communications tasks to prepare, deploy, sustain and recover information services for multi-domain operations and exercises. This helps protect the RAF’s online space and digital services, making operations and the organisation more efficient using technology.

More about 90 Signals Unit

Air Security Force

The Air Security Force consists of RAF Police, Military Provost Guard Service and Civil Servants who have a global responsibility for the policing and security of the RAF.

More about Air Security Force

Combat Readiness Force

The Combat Readiness Force is responsible for defending the RAF in order to enable Air and Space Operations. Protection of the RAF’s people, assets and operating environments is its primary objective.

Air Command & Control Force

Air Command and Control Force watches over the skies 24/7 in UK and NATO airspace, and other places abroad. They direct military air systems to keep the UK and our NATO allies safe. They also provide Air Command and Control to air assets and enable Tactical Data Links (TDLs) in the UK and overseas.

More about Air C2 Force

Medical force

The Medical Force delivers a global aeromedical evacuation service for defence. They plan medical care for air operations and prepare both regular and reserve RAF Medical Services staff, to go on missions and training activities all over the world.

More about Medical Force

Support force

Support Force provides essential and quickly deployable logistics, engineering, and support abilities that are necessary to maintain operations and training exercises globally.