Page 18 - issue22.03.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, March 22, 2019 P18 Royal Air Force News Friday, March 22, 2019 P19

Feature Recruitment

TRAILBLAZERS

MERT: Medical Emergency Response Team features in the new RAF advert

RAF FAMILY: Avionics trainee AC Heather Rae’s parents were both in the Service

TYPHOON PILOT: Flt Lt Tori Turner jumped at the chance of being in the promo video

Tracey Allen Safety’s first public engagement was
to the Defence College of Technical
HE RAF is leading the Training at Cosford – traditionally
way for women in the one of the most heavily male-
military – by 2020 one oriented areas of the Service – to
Tin five members of the meet young women engineering
Royal Air Force could be female, apprentices.
according to Service recruitment SAC Annie-Beth Allen, 21, ROLE MODEL: Air
chiefs. joined the RAF three years ago as a Mshl Sue Gray with
The recent appointment of the trainee engineer. apprentices at the
UK’s first female three-star officer, Formerly a florist, on completing technical training
college at RAF Cosford
Air Marshal Sue Gray, paves the her training she will join 70 Sqn PHOTO: SGT PAUL OLDFIELD
way for increasing numbers of at Brize Norton as a mechanical
women hoping to hit new heights engineer, working on the A400M.
in the RAF. She said: “We are examined
A high-profile ad campaign all the way through the course; RAF leads way for equality in the Armed Forces SQUIPPERS: AC Naomi Readman, instructor Hayley Nolan and AC Sophie Taylor
‘No Room For Clichés’, aimed at it’s really intensive but I’m really
challenging the male domination enjoying it, despite the stress. advert I was very keen to get the last thing on my mind,
of the Armed Forces, received more “Air Mshl Gray is a real role with the first female three-star and target of 20 involved. all that is important is to
than 300,000 hits on social media model, she gives women in the “When talking to non- keep myself and my team
breaking new ground in the Forces’ military something to aspire to. military people about my safe whilst administering
fight to recruit more women. It’s good to see that so much can career they almost always life-saving treatment to my
The RAF already leaves the be achieved in the Air Force by a per cent women personnel within the next year express surprise at the patient.”
Army and Navy in its wake with a female engineer.” experiences and opportunities Defence Secretary Gavin
female headcount of 17.5 per cent AC Heather Rae, 19, an avionics I have had, especially Williamson said:
and is raising the game with a target trainee, joined the RAF last autumn that female nurses “Sue Gray taking
of 20 per cent within 12 months. straight from college. Both her officer as well, she is really inspirational. normal it becomes, the easier it is to get can be put into such one of those very
parents are ex Air Force. “I hope to go to a helicopter squadron on with our jobs, and the easier it is for physically and top jobs in the Air
She said: “My dad probably had and work on Chinooks, then in a few aspiring females to enter these jobs. mentally challenging Force is absolutely
vital. It’s sending a
roles – I would be
a lot of influence over me joining.
years’ time go for my commission.”
“ I truly believe It’s going really well so far – I’ll be the male trainees learn and approach “ It’s important to delighted challenges message, that you
this
if
She added: “It’s interesting to see how
there will be a day
qualified in about three years. I
advert
can succeed as
when the Chief of really want to work on the Voyager.” things differently. They are very sociable, show young women some of society’s a woman in the
Armed Forces
there’s a lot of banter so we are always
perception
of
She’s not fazed by being in a
the Air Staff will not minority as a female engineering having a laugh.” there’s more to life than females. and get to the
Her colleague AC Naomi Readman
be air crew and will trainee. graduates soon and is moving to the clothes you wear and be “I even would top. “I very much
She added: “We’re treated just
more
be female the same as the lads – it’s just like Wattisham to work with the Army Air the make-up you apply ” delighted if it in hope to see the
” Air Mshl Gray having a lot of brothers. They don’t Corps on Apaches. Flt Lt Tori Turner any way inspires first female four-
treat us any differently.” Typhoon combat pilot Flt Lt Tori people to embark star appointed,
Air Mshl Gray said: “I truly Turner was keen to challenge public “Additionally, I think it’s important to on a career in hopefully not too
believe there will be a day when the efore joining the RAF nine and Service perceptions by fronting the show young women that there’s more to life MECHANICAL ENGINEER: SAC Annie-Beth Allen with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson the RAF. I love far in the distant
Chief of the Air Staff will not be air Bmonths ago, former Air EXHILARATING: Female RAF member looks out from a Chinook in another scene from ad game-changing ad campaign. than the clothes you wear and the make- my career, the future.”
crew and will be female. There is no Cadet AC Sophie Taylor, 21, was She said: “I jumped at the opportunity up you apply. There are many women out these roles, we are providing an lso featured in the 42-second highlights will n To see the
reason why it should not be.” a receptionist at a gym. She’s now and repair of essential kit including She said: “It’s very hands-on because I firmly believe that the more there doing exciting, challenging jobs, alternative to the fashion magazines Aproduction was frontline always be those ad search ‘No Room
The RAF’s newly-appointed training as a survival equipment ejection seats, helmets and night and it’s vital work. I think Air Mshl people who see women in these roles, the that don’t judge you according to how for those who want something else medic FS Suzi Smith. She added: times when my THREE-STAR: For Clichés’ on
Director General of Defence fitter, working on the maintenance vision goggles. Gray is amazing. I aspire to be an more normal it becomes; and the more you look. By being more visible in to aspire to.” “After hearing the brief about the appearance has been Air Mshl Sue Gray YouTube.