The first female RAF Regiment gunner has successfully completed the 20-week course required to join the RAF Regiment and graduates at RAF Honington Suffolk, today.
Leading Aircraftman Georgia Sandover (19) of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, said she always wanted to join one of the services. While attending the College of West Anglia she completed the uniformed services course and was inspired by one of her teachers who happened to be ex-RAF Regiment to join.
“I am really proud and thrilled that all of us on the course graduated today. We have all supported one another from beginning to end and without that support we wouldn’t be here today. I am looking forward to my posting and can’t wait to get on with my new job. To anyone that is thinking of joining the RAF Regiment, male or female, I say ‘Don’t be afraid to give it a go"
LAC Sandover
Georgia is one of 18 gunners who have now successfully completed their phase 2 training at RAF Honington to become RAF Regiment Gunners.
Each graduate is now welcomed into the family that makes up the RAF Regiment that delivers global Force Protection for the Royal Air Force. They will now be posted to one of the RAF Regiments field squadrons and immediately commence mission specific training for contingency operations.
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence said: “My congratulations to all those graduating today which includes the first female regular serving RAF Gunner. The RAF Regiment will benefit from increased diversity and I wish Georgia and all her colleagues the very best for the future.”
“The RAF Regiment Gunners graduating today can be very proud of everything they achieved to get where they are. We are equally proud of them because they include our first regular service female Gunner, making history with every role in the Royal Air Force now open to all.”
Air Chief marshal Mike Wigston
The Chief of the Air Staff