The population of RAF Akrotiri doubled in size in late-November when Exercise Joint Venture 2008 swung into action. The medium scale Joint Force exercise saw the Joint Force Air Component (JFAC), the RAF’s high readiness expeditionary headquarters deploy to Cyprus alongside a joint Land, Maritime and Allied Rapid Reaction Corps headquarters.

This was the first time the biennial exercise had been hosted by RAF Akrotiri having previously been held at South Cerney, Glos. The desire to add a realistic scenario of deployed operations saw a move to the Mediterranean base.

Based at RAF High Wycombe, the core staff of the JFAC were augmented by personnel from across the RAF including the JFAC Commander and Deputy Commander for the exercise, Air Vice-Marshal Steve Hillier and Air Commodore Paul Oborn respectively.

The primary aim of Joint Venture was the interaction between the military headquarters and its various components with Government departments and international and non-Governmental organisations (including aid agencies). Among the VIPs who visited the JFAC during the exercise was Bob Ainsworth MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces.

Deputy Commander for the JFAC exercise, Air Cdre Paul Oborn said: ‘The challenge for the JFAC is to move all the people and equipment, and to provide the connectivity that a modern JFAC needs to operate in the 21st Century.’ He added, ‘The JFAC has not done it by itself, it has been a real team effort and the contribution by 9 TSU and 3 MCU has been outstanding.’

His views were echoed by Wing Commander ‘Spike’ Grimshaw (41), Chief of Staff at JFACHQ. ‘Deploying to Cyprus for the exercise involves complicated management of people and resources. It provides us with a fantastic opportunity to test and refine our Headquarters procedures in a realistic and challenging environment alongside other UK Government Departments, the Army and the Royal Navy.’

Having been involved on the ground throughout his career, Merlyn Gwyther (36), an instructor in the RAF Regiment Section at RAF Henlow relished the chance to work in the Command Headquarters: ‘There are a number of challenges to working on a big HQ exercise like this. The main aim for me is to take the lessons identified here forward to ensure we improve how we operate in the future. Working in the combined and joint environment is really interesting and the involvement of other nations increases the realism.’

The largest group of augmentees came from 90 Signals Unit, Tactical Communications Wing (TCW). “We arrived in Cyprus on 21 October 2008 to start the set-up process” said Warrant Officer John Hands (44). “We’ve got a significant amount of communications equipment to operate, and 40 personnel. We’re amongst the first in and will be close to the last out – leaving on 10 December 2008 having dismantled our kit.”

Indeed, the amount of kit required to support the JFAC is huge. “We have in the region of 400 clients to support here and have deployed with a full helpdesk service supporting the variety of systems” explained Flight Sergeant Rob McCormack (49). “We’ve got a big-footprint of equipment and are working closely with the Land and Maritime Components.”