Excalibur Nov_Dec 2011 Issue Part 1 - RFCA

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UNIT ARTICLES 18 the front. After a few hours and the loss of 3 stone in sweat, SAC Graham took on the Dress State 4 Romeo. After walking around and pulling in the public an interesting tune came on over the sound system, Flower by Moby, AKA the press up challenge. The tune was restarted and lying face down on the ground, with a gathering crowd, he proceeded to follow the instructions of the song, bring Sally up, bring Sally down. After about half of the song and a few painful grunts, his arms gave way and the respirator came off within seconds to roaring applause and cheer from the crowd, who we then showed around and sold the Air Force to. Great tactics if you ask me. As the end of the day approached, during a dance off to Chelsea Dagger, two men and a camera appeared on the lively scene. ‘Alright lads, official DVD here, can we film you?’, to which the reply came ‘Of course you can’. The cameraman hit record as we screamed happy birthday into the camera and continued to dance until we could dance no more. I think there will be few crates flying around the 1 Squadron offices next month. Overall I think RIAT was a massive success on behalf of the Unit and the personnel that attended. It was a very enjoyable experience and nice to interact with members of the public, something where the opportunities to do so are becoming few and far between. We were all humbled by their opinions on what we achieve in our trade. We also hope that we enlightened a few people to the fact that it isn’t all that bad in the Air Force, and with the right attitude and friends along the way, you can have a very fulfilling and satisfying career on 90SU. . . . . and remember ‘No Comms, No Bombs’!! By SAC Graham and SAC Willis
6 months in the life of Number One (Field Communications) Squadron, Tactical Communications Wing, 90 Signals Unit Five days into a 14 day Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Driffield training area, the deployed men and women unexpectedly heard “ENDEX ” being called. The message from the Commanders was “Immediately pack-up the equipment for return to Leeming, in preparation for onwards deployment on Operations”. This was the day that the Prime Minister David Cameron had announced, “The United Kingdom will do all within its power to protect Libyan Civilians from the Gaddafi regime”. As a Squadron we were soon to learn that we would be deploying in support of Air Operations over Libya. Before return to Leeming, our equipment had to be dismantled and 100% checks conducted on several thousand items. Despite the tiring effect of the exercise, motivation was high. Within 5 hours the most important equipment was on its way back to Leeming. Working through the night, under torches and vehicle head-lights, the remaining exercise equipment was all en-route by the following morning. As elements returned back to Leeming, the work effort continued. Preparations pressed ahead for deployment to an unknown location. The first team to depart was Cpl Mark Foulger and SAC Tom Larner, who only had a few hours to turn their kit around before deploying. They were dispatched to HQ Air Command before onwards deployment to Gioia Del Colle to provide earlyentry communications (man-portable systems). Within 48 hours of returning to Leeming, the remaining deployment equipment and manpower departed for Brize Norton. Fighting the urge to sleep had been hard for all of us, indeed close supervision from our seniors occasionally found individuals unwittingly asleep on their feet. With Cpl Foulger and SAC Larner already providing basic secure communications to enable Tornado Operations out of Gioia, the onus was on the follow-up team to deliver a comprehensive support package to meet the requirements of an entire Expeditionary Air Wing supporting both Typhoon and Tornado Aircraft. On arrival at Gioia, not a second was wasted as the team worked tirelessly to achieve Full Operational Capability within 7 days; an achievement in which the Squadron takes great pride. As the rest of the Combat and Combat Support Units arrived at Gioia, it was clear that our deployment in deserts was not replicated by others. The team stood out strongly, but fortunately it was for all the right reasons. Meanwhile, back in the 90 Signals Unit hangar, Gioia was to be just the beginning of the Squadron’s commitments to Operation ELLAMY. The next to go were small scale deployments to Paris, Naples, Sicily and a follow-up force to Akrotiri to support equipment that had been installed by Number Five Information Services Squadron. With Number Four Field Communications Squadron providing support to the Joint Force Air Component HQ in Germany, news came in that the HQ was to change location. To facilitate the move, our Squadron was to re-generate the equipment, which would return from Germany and then deploy to Poggio in Northern Italy. A new team formed and set about determined preparations for the task in hand. Deploying with 90SU’s shiny new equipments, Sky Lark and Baseband in a Box, the team were able to arrive in Poggio and have Full Operational Capability for the HQ within the week. A/Cpl Simon Benson was tasked to put together the battle rhythm for the UK Air Component Commander. For this highly important and complicated task, A/Cpl Benson was awarded a coin by Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Currently, the position is held by a United States Air Force 4 Star officer. Cpl John Henry, who had been working tirelessly in Sicily for 14 days in support an Air to Air Refueling detatchment, was soon to receive reinforcement. A recce of the location was carried out and then a follow-up team arrived to provide Full Operational Capability. It was a great relief that John made it back in time for his wedding (which had already been cancelled once six months previously due to his deployment to Afghanistan), which went ahead with cardboard cut-outs of missing friends deployed on the Operation. From our perspective the launch of Op ELLAMY showed RAF Leeming and 90 Signals Unit at their best. 90 SU elements pulled together like never before to deliver against an unparalleled communications requirement. The unprecedented speed with which the whole effort was achieved is testament to the support of the wider RAF Leeming, Logistics Squadron and General Engineering Flight (GEF) in particular. Indeed the members of RAF Leeming GEF, who deployed with the Field Communications Squadron, proved indispensible. The Squadron was relieved by Number Two Field Communications Squadron at the beginning of August. A seamless handover enabled TCW to continue to provide un-interrupted service across the Area of Operations. We have now entered a new training phase, preparing to deploy again in support of the air efforts in both Afghanistan and over Libya. The Squadron will be joined by augmentees from across the RAF in order to support operations in 3 theatres concurrently. Well earned leave is being mixed with a myriad of preparation courses, to ensure we are fully prepared for deployment. Filling in those few remaining gaps we are conducting Adventurous Training weeks at Force Development Training Centre Crickhowell as well as an expedition to Rosanno, Tuscany. The Squadron is also currently trialing a new operational fitness package on behalf of 22 (Training) Group. It is hoped that this new strategy will vastly improve personal fitness levels of those deploying on operations, ultimately making them more effective. Finally, there should just be time for a Squadron Dinner and photograph to give us time to reunite and reflect on the pride earned through Op ELLAMY. One Field Communications Squadron will be deploying for 4 months in support of Op HERRICK and Op ELLAMY at the end of <strong>Nov</strong>ember. Cpl Scott Stewart 1 (FC) Sqn, TCW, 90SU “Strive to Maintain” UNIT ARTICLES 19 19
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Excalibur Nov_Dec 2011 Issue Part 1 - RFCA

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