Over the period 14-20 October 2024, 600 (City of London) Squadron held an intensive week of training for its Squadron of multi-skilled RAF Reserves.
The training serials came thick and fast and included opportunities for the aviators to brush up on their individual readiness training and mandatory training. There were also opportunities to develop the Squadron of Part-Time Volunteer Reserves in areas such as leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, wargaming and human factors.
The packed programme for the week included training for; mandatory competencies, individual readiness, annual reporting, human factors, diversity and inclusion, welfare, media, and first aid.
There was also a tabletop wargaming exercise, a leadership, critical thinking and teamwork challenge, a Force Development visit with the theme of leadership in peace and war time, a briefing from the RAF Benevolent Fund, a brief on the British Forces South Atlantic Islands, mental wellbeing and a fantastic Honours and Awards Ceremony.
The Squadron’s role is General Support, so the skills and experience are broad across the four specialist flights which consist of Cyberspace, Intelligence, Air and Space and People Operations. The Reservists that make up the Squadron all have careers outside the RAF so these opportunities to train together are vital, not only to brush up on their skills for military service but also to build the esprit de corps which is so important to military life.
Wing Commander Steve Duddy, Officer Commanding 600 Squadron, said:
“It’s such a privilege to lead the fantastic aviators that make up 600 Squadron. To see their outstanding teamwork and dedication to the service played out over a week of dynamic and extensive training is a real pleasure. 600 Squadron are motivated, fit and ready to support the regular force with whatever is required.”
AS1 Kean Noon, a Cyberspace Communications Specialist, who has been on 600 Squadron for two and a half years, said:
“I attended the whole week of annual training which has been excellent. I really enjoyed the force development which included a visit to the Imperial War Museum. It gave me a fantastic insight into the history of warfare and because members of the whole Squadron were together, allowed us time to build better relationships. The visit also gave me an opportunity to reflect on why we are in the RAF. In my civilian career I am a cloud computing engineer and I have found that the exciting opportunities in the Reserves have been a real complement to my job; benefitting my self-confidence and fitness.”
Members of 600 Squadron puzzle out one of the exercises in the Mobile Team Challenge.
Planning the red team tactics in a wargaming scenario.
Back to the drawing board for the blue team in the wargaming scenario.
The Force Development Day took in RAF related landmarks and memorials in London and culminated in a visit to the Imperial War Museum.
First aid skills are a vital skill for any specialisation in the RAF Reserves.
Media training to build skills for dealing with the media, keeping safe online and capturing content for media articles.