Dedication, drive and determination. That’s what our sports stars all have in common.

We take sport seriously. If you have the skills to compete at international level, the RAF can help you achieve your best.

Helping people achieve their goals

We pride ourselves on helping people achieve their goals. We currently sponsor 14 elite athletes across a range of sports, giving them the time, the equipment and the financial support they need to develop their talents to the full.

International athletes

We’ve helped our personnel to become national and international competitors. People like Samantha Smithson who is currently part of Great Britain’s judo team. Sam competes at national level and in the European Team Championships with assistance from the RAF Board.

The RAF has helped the UK produce national and international competitors in:

Search and Rescue one day, waveski the next

‘I believe that I have the perfect all-action job. I spend my working life maintaining life-saving Search and Rescue helicopters and my spare time travelling the world to compete in waveski – the sport I love.

‘The RAF gives me time off to train and compete. I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate so much on the sport in a normal job and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to reach world-class level without the RAF’s support.’

Carl Coombes, Chief Technician

Sporting legend: Rory Underwood

Rory Underwood is a star of English rugby and earned himself an MBE in 1992. He’s England’s second-most-capped player, and the highest try scorer. He balanced these astounding achievements with a terrific 18-year career in the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant. ‘I was, and still am, really interested in flying, which is why I joined,’ says Rory. ‘I have many good memories from that time in my life, like working as part of a team.’

The RAF at the Olympics

It’s a great honour for anyone to be part of the Winter Olympics. Flying Officer Roger Cruickshank and Senior Aircraftman Dan Humphries were both selected for Team GB in Turin.

Flying Officer Roger Cruickshank: is Great Britain’s number 2 in Alpine skiing. He’s had a passion for skiing since childhood. And being part of the RAF gave him just the push he needed to achieve a place on the Winter Olympics team. He’s overcome injury and a rigorous training schedule – ‘training eight hours a day, six days a week…’ says Roger, who’s next challenge is to fly a Typhoon.

Senior Aircraftman Dan Humphries: has represented Great Britain as a bobsleigh brakeman. ‘I had never even been in a bobsleigh until I joined the RAF, but from my first experience I was hooked,’ says Dan. We spotted his potential and got him training at the International Federation of Tobogganing (Austria). He continues to be a successful athlete.

Variety, excitement and challenge

If you show us you’ve got the drive, determination and skills, we’ll support you all the way.