Military aircraft are being used to deploy and sustain the main body of UK forces’ contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The RAuxAF personnel will primarily backfill regular Royal Air Force personnel deployed to forward airheads as apart of the war on terrorism. The Reservists will be drawn from 4624 (county of Oxford) Movements Sqn RuxAF based at RAF Brize Norton and they will primarily serve in the UK.

The Reservists will be called-out for a period of up to six months and will be paid the same rates of pay as regular personnel. In addition, they will receive financial assistance to make up, within certain banded limits, the difference between civilian earnings and the military salary. Reservists and their employers, have the right to seek exemption from, or deferral of, call out under the terms of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and its subordinate legislation. These rights are explained when the call-out notice is issued. Employers will be eligible to claim financial assistance to help cover some of the costs associated with releasing reservists for service.

Wing Commander Malcolm Symonds, CO of 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Sqn RAuxAF said: "The RAuxAF is part of the RAF’s Total Force Concept where regulars, reservists and civilians all work together. We are trained to the same standard as our full-time counterparts, and it is this training which enables my people to be completely interchangeable with regular personnel."

4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force

The Sqn’s role is to provide movements support to operations worldwide.

4624 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was formed in 1982 at RAF Brize Norton to provide a pool of trained Movements personnel to reinforce the Regular Movements organisation and undertake air movements duties in support of the RAF operations worldwide. This includes preparing, positioning and securing loads in aircraft, cargo preparation, passenger handling and specialist vehicle driving.

In 1991, the Squadron was mobilised for the Gulf War, when Squadron personnel were deployed to support established movements staff in Theatre and to bases in the UK and Germany. In 1999, the Squadron was mobilised again to support operations in the Balkans; a third of the Operational Flights serving for 6 months with the Regular Movements Squadrons at RAF Brize Norton, RAF Lyneham, Croatia and Kosovo.

The Squadron is the largest in the RauxAF with an establishment of 300 personnel. Training is conducted at RAF Brize Norton, RAF Lyneham and other Movements units’ worldwide. In peacetime, the Squadron frequently undertakes movements tasks at home and overseas to enable personnel to gain experience and work directly with their Regular colleagues.

Compulsory mobilisation of elements of Territorial Army

The Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, announced to Parliament on 14 January that up to 140 members of the Territorial Army would be compulsorily mobilised.The soldiers, drawn exclusively from 3 (Volunteer) Military Intelligence (3 (V) MI) Battalion, will provide additional intelligence support in the ongoing war against international terrorism.

Up to 100 reservists will be employed in the UK at MOD Headquarters organisations, primarily the Defence Intelligence Service and the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood. A further 40 will be part of UK forces deployed to Afghanistan. The mobilisation is expected to last about 6 months. Although there is no current intention to broaden the mobilisation within 3 MI Battalion or to the wider Territorial and Reserve Forces, this will be kept under review.

For the latest news on the use of the Reserves click here to the MOD website.