THE NAVAL ENGINEER

45
of aircraft that were entering
service with the RN; from 1939 all
aircrew entering Naval service were
RNVR(A). By the end of the war,
numbers had increased to 46,000;
this included aircrew and support
personnel including engineers. The
Branch was rapidly run down after
the Second World War and ceased
to exist by the end of 1945. Created
again in 1946, the Branch recruited
former wartime aircrew, and at its
peak operated 12 squadrons of
aircraft – but was disbanded along
with RAFVR Squadrons in the 1956
defence cuts.
In 1980 the RNR Air Branch formed
as an all-Officer structure with 33
aircrew officers who had recently
left the RN. Liable for recall to
service, they attended an annual
two-week ‘training camp’ at an Air
Station to refresh their perishable
aircrew skills and then returned to
their civilian jobs for the rest of the
year. The idea was that if recalled to
service during the Cold War period,
their ‘flash-to-bang’ time would be
relatively short. The Branch grew
slowly and it took 10 years before
the size increased to 80. In 1994,
under Flag Officer Naval Aviation
(FONA), the Branch opened its
doors to all FAA ranks, rates and
specializations: it was at this point
that the first AE Ratings became
part of the Branch. The Branch
continued to grow, peaking at 431
in 2003.
The reservist used to be identifiable
by the ‘R’ in the executive curl of
officer’s rank lace and the ‘Royal
Naval Reserve’ shoulder-flash worn
by ratings on Number 1 uniform.
These were both removed in
2005 and are now only worn by
honorary RNR officers and URNU
undergraduates who are nondeployable.
THE RNR AIR BRANCH TODAY
The current Requirement for
the RNR Air Branch is 320, with
every specialisation of the FAA
represented. With approximately
100 aircrew, 100 AE/SE personnel
and 100 operational support
personnel. The officer/rating split
is about 50/50 across the Branch
although in the AE/SE area this is a
5/95 split in favour of ratings.
Unlike the mainstream RNR units
which parade as formed units on a
weekly basis and carry out training
programmes in preparation for
periods of mobilisation, Air Branch
personnel are each assigned to
a FAA unit. The majority of these
units are at RNAS Yeovilton,
RNAS Culdrose and the
Commando Helicopter Force
which is part of Joint Helicopter
Command, such as:
• Squadrons.
• Force Headquarters.
• Air Engineering Departments.
• Air Departments.
• Meteorology Departments.
• Survival Equipment Sections.
• Engineering Training Schools.
• Second-line workshops.
• Simulators.
• Air Traffic Control.
• RN School of Fighter Control.
• Fire Stations.
• Photographic Sections.
The remainder of the Branch is
spread thinly across the UK in
places such as:
• NCHQ.
• RNAESS at HMS Sultan.
• 1710 Squadron in Portsmouth
Naval Base.
• Project Teams within DE&S.
• Air Experience Flights.
• FOST.
• Maritime Battle Staff.
• Defence Survival Training
Organisation.
PAY, BOUNTY & COMMITMENT
Air Branch personnel have an
Annual Training Commitment (ATC)
of 17 days per year and are subject
to call-out for mobilized service.
Serving with Squadrons
Reservists are paid a daily rate
of pay commensurate with their
RNR rank/rate, this is lower than
regular rates of pay as the x-factor
is not paid to reservists. Specialist
pay is paid where appropriate. A
Reservist completing ATC is entitled
to a tax-free bounty payment
at the end of the training year.
Additional achievement over the
17 day commitment does not attract
additional bounty.
APPLICATION AND JOINING
All Air Branch reserves are exregular,
primarily RN or RM
personnel recruited within three
years of leaving full time service
to form a pool of “Experience in
Reserve”. All join in their substantive
rank up to Lieutenant Commander
or CPO, occasionally WO; they are
selected for their particular specialist
Service skills, experience and
personal qualities. The philosophy is
the retention of existing skills rather
than teaching new ones, though
opportunities for retraining can occur
to suit operational requirements.
Applications to join the Branch
are accepted from between
12 months before Tx date and up
to three years after leaving full-time
service. Selection and retention
is competitive – Aircraft Force
Commanders, Air Station Cdr (Air),
Cdr (AE) and Squadron CO are
consulted before an application is
accepted or rejected.
Recent patterns of retention of
regulars to age 45 and 50 have
encouraged significant over-age
recruiting and the average age
of the Branch is about 48. Most
applicants are senior ratings or
officers who have completed a
significant number of years’ service
and wish to retain contact with the
RN. Historically less than 5% of
applications are from junior ratings.
Applicants who apply before in
advance of their Tx date can be
seamlessly transferred from the RN
to the RNR subject to a medical
which is usually carried out at the
same time as their RN leaving
medical; personnel who have left the
RN before applying have to apply
Jump to
Contents