I recently visited RAF Wittering as part of my enrolment in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS).
I have already visited the Defence Academy and RAF Shawbury with the AFPS and over the next year I will spend a further 12 days on the scheme – mainly during parliamentary recess times – including five consecutive days embedded with an RAF unit. During my visit to RAF Wittering I received briefings from the Station Commander, met RAF pilots in training and watched demonstrations from a number of the teams based at RAF Wittering including the Mobile Catering Team, the Mountain Rescue Team and a Logistics Team.
During my visit to RAF Wittering I learned a lot about the wide range of work carried out by different teams in the RAF. When we think about the RAF, we immediately picture planes and helicopters, but my visit to RAF Wittering highlighted how significant the support functions and logistical arrangements provided by the RAF are too. I gained an insight into the vital behind the scenes work carried out by our airmen and women, including the construction of temporary hangars, the co-ordination of support teams and the organisation of food supplies