On Thursday 19 October I spent the day at RAF Shawbury. The visit was part of my enrolment on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS), for which I have chosen to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) course.
The scheme lasts for one year and during this time, I will be spending 15 days on the scheme – mainly during parliamentary recess times - including five consecutive days embedded with an RAF unit.
Throughout my day at RAF Shawbury I received briefings from the Station Commander, visited helicopter flying and air traffic control training facilities and met with groups of officers and new RAF recruits.
I had a fantastic day at RAF Shawbury. During the briefings I’ve received I’ve learned a lot about the work that the RAF does but being able to visit the training facilities and see the way that the airmen and women operate with my own eyes was fascinating. Part of my reason for signing up to the AFPS was to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of military service and so I was pleased to have the opportunity to interact with new RAF recruits and hear about the training they are receiving.