News story

Royal Air Force reserves return to Wales

The Royal Air Force is reforming an auxiliary squadron in Wales, 57 years after its disbandment.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 12 March 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Secretary of State for Wales talks to a potential recruit

614 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is in the process of being reformed in Cardiff.

The squadron’s commanding officer, Wing Commander Phil Sagar, said:

As reserves play a bigger part in the UK’s military strategy, the reforming of 614 Squadron will provide an exciting and challenging opportunity for people in Wales to be part of the future of their Royal Air Force.

It will also provide fantastic opportunities to develop skills, train, meet new people and be part of a team in an organisation with real direction and purpose.

As part of the strategic defence and security review in 2010, the Prime Minister commissioned an independent review of the UK’s reserve forces.

The final report, Future Reserves 2020, contained a number of recommendations about the future of the reserve forces.

Wing Commander Phil Sagar (right) talking to the Secretary of State for Wales during a 614 Squadron open day [Picture: Ray Edwards, Crown copyright]

Wing Commander Sagar continued:

The plan is for the RAF auxiliaries to be configured with a UK-wide footprint to better connect with the nation, have wider roles, and be more accessible to new recruits.

Key to achieving these goals is the formation of 3 new Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons. In addition to 614 Squadron in Wales, the two others, which are already up and running, are 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron at RAF Woodvale and 502 (Ulster) Squadron at Aldergrove, where there has been little RAF representation up until now.

The work to relaunch 614 Squadron is nearing completion and the emphasis is now on recruiting personnel to man the squadron, which will begin in earnest in the near future.

The UK reserve forces play a vital part in our nation’s defence. Find out how you can get involved and what is on offer for reserves.

Published 12 March 2014