Following 29 weeks of significant effort and achievement, the 13 successful graduates of Junior Regiment Officers Course No 127 are now qualified to serve in the Royal Air Force Regiment and celebrated their graduation here at RAF Honington on Thursday 8 December 2022.
The graduates were joined and congratulated today by VVIP guest, Honorary Air Commodore Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and Commandant General of the RAF Regiment Air Vice-Marshal Mick Smeath as the appointed Reviewing Officers.
Several of the 13 new Officers are graduating for the second time after choosing to take their Commission whilst already working within the RAF or one of the other Armed Forces.
Over the last 6 months each one has overcome considerable physical and mental challenges under the close supervision of the professionally trained staff of the RAF Regiment Training Wing, RAF Honington. In doing so they have earned their place amongst the commissioned ranks of the very proud and distinguished Corps.
As RAF Regiment Officers they will specialise in ground combat tactics, weaponry and field craft. They will lead and direct the RAF Regiment Squadrons that protect RAF bases and forward operating bases.
Further Congratulations go to the Prize Winners:
The Vaux Trophy: Flying Officer Fox
The Vaux Trophy is awarded to the Junior Regiment Officers Course student who, in the opinion of the instructors, has displayed the most outstanding development and character throughout the course.
The Kapuscinski Sword: Flying Officer Wells
This standard pattern RAF sword was commissioned and presented at a Service of Dedication on 20 December 1984 by fellow students in memory of Flying Officer Stephen Phillip Andrew Kapuscinski. Flying Officer Kapuscinski was a student on Junior Regiment Officers Course 1/84, who died of injuries received in a road traffic accident during training on 28 September 1984.
The Kapuscinski sword is awarded by the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment to the student who, during the Junior Regiment Officers Course, has demonstrated outstanding ability in leadership and shows the greatest potential.
The Barratt Sword: Flying Officer Harrison
The Barratt Sword is a Cavalry Officer’s Sabre bearing a RAF Sword knot. The sword was presented to the RAF Regiment by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Barratt and was initially awarded at the Officer Cadet Training Unit at the RAF Regiment Depot as the sword of honour until 1948.
The Barratt sword is awarded alongside the RAF Regiment Dinner Club book prize to the student who has displayed the highest levels of proficiency and character in all aspects of the Junior Regiment Officers’ Course.
