(from an article written in 2006 for the RAF Benson Station Magazine 'The Lion's Roar')

Oxford University Air Squadron (OUAS) is one of 14 University Air Squadrons dotted around the country. OUAS is based at RAF Benson, south of Oxford, and also has a Town Headquarters (THQ) in Oxford city centre. The role of the UAS is to give students a detailed look at the RAF and offers a unique insight into life as an officer. All students are eligible to fly and receive at least 10 hours flying tuition per year, more importantly if they have what it takes they can all go solo. Additionally, the UAS conducts Adventure Training (AT) and Force Development Training. There are several expeditions organised each year, some in the UK and several overseas.

The UAS year is based on the university year and starts with the recruiting process in late September as new students, known as ‘Freshers’, enrol into university. About 25 students per year are recruited from Oxford, Oxford Brookes and Reading Universities during the ‘Freshers Fairs’. The process starts with an informal chat with the squadron instructors, selected individuals will be given application forms. Once all the application forms are returned to THQ, a select few will be invited back for formal interviews, where they will be asked questions about their hobbies, interests, achievements to date and quizzed about current and military affairs. Further selection takes place and those students assessed to be the most suitable candidates are invited to join the squadron. In due course, the students are ‘attested’ into the RAF Volunteer Reserve thereby becoming ‘Officer Cadets’ and full members of OUAS.

After being attested, the students make their first visit to Royal Air Force Benson, where they are given a tour of the squadron. The students also get measured for uniform and flying kit and get their first flight in the Grob 115E Tutor.

A bonding weekend is organised early on in the New Year to allow all of the new students to get to know each other in an enjoyable, yet demanding, environment. In January the Squadron visited Wales for a weekend of kayaking and hiking. Evening events enabled the new recruits to bond socially.

The Annual Dinner takes place at the THQ in February and is run exactly like an Officers’ Mess formal function. A ‘Guest of Honour’ and many VIPs, from both the RAF and the Universities, attend the event which culminates in prizes being presented to members of the squadron who excelled during the previous year. The Annual Dinner is the highlight of the squadron’s social calendar. Throughout the year students are also able to attend functions in the Officers’ Mess at RAF Benson, where they are welcomed and treated as fellow officers. This social interaction is a vital part of the learning process and enables the students to get a real taste of RAF life.

In mid-March Exercise ‘Oxford Winter Ranger’ saw sixteen students from OUAS travel to Les Contamines in the French Alps to partake in a weeks downhill skiing. Most of the students were novice skiers and therefore learnt an amazing amount in their short time there. All expeditions, regardless of type, are organised and run by the students; this promotes leadership and organisational skills thereby fostering personal qualities that will be useful to them in the future.

During the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays students are required to attend training ‘camps’ where they are able to continue their flying training and partake in various AT, sports and social events. Each student is obliged to participate for 2 weeks over the month-long summer camp with some of the keener members even attending for the whole time! Summer camp was held at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall, where the squadron completed over 135 hours of flying with the students participating in AT and sport on their non-flying days. What little spare time they had was spent on the beach and enjoying the attractions of Cornwall!

Sport is highly regarded at OUAS and the students take part in many sporting events through the year. This year saw the squadron participating in a rugby sevens competition at RAF Cranwell, The Balti Cup football competition, a rowing regatta and a hockey 7’s tournament. Inter UAS sporting competitions are always fiercely contested and OUAS acquitted itself admirably, being in the top 5 in all sports.

Each summer the students have the opportunity to spend a week on a RAF base experiencing life as an Officer in a particular branch or role. This is known as the Summer Vacation Attachment (SVA) and is an extremely important part of the UAS syllabus, introducing students to potential careers in the RAF. SVA’s this year ranged from catering at RAF Digby to flying the Hawk at RAF Valley! Each student gives a short presentation on return from SVA and it is clear that an awful lot is gained from the scheme. Perhaps you had one of our students on your station this year, if so thanks for all the hard work put in by your staff to help make the visits so worthwhile.

The squadron conducts a great deal of charity work and fund raising during the year, our affiliated charity being the Cardiomyopathy Association. Events and activities such as a parachute jump, sponsored hair waxing, a Jazz Night were conducted and together with other individual efforts raised the magnificent sum of £2750 for our nominated charity. A cheque was presented to the Cardiomyopathy Association at the OUAS Families Day in August.

In early September, Exercise Atlantic Venture saw 14 students and 2 members of staff travel to Washington D.C. at the invitation of the US Department of Defence. Whilst in the USA the students participated in Personal Development and Leadership Training (PDLT) activities which included visits to many of the most important military sites in and around the US capital. The squadron were hosted as guests at the British Embassy, the Pentagon and the US Navy Test Pilots School at Patuxent River. In all cases they were afforded unparalleled access to areas not seen by the public and able to meet senior members of both the US military and the government. The students gain a great deal both socially and culturally from this type of trip and PDLT is another important facet of the ‘all-round’ training received by students at the UAS.

Each September several students leave the squadron, having completed 2 years as members or graduated from university. This completes the year and there are now spaces to fill, the cycle starts again with another visit to the ‘Freshers Fair’ to seek out eager and talented individuals.

So what happens to the students at the end of their time with the squadron?

A few elect to join the RAF and go for officer selection with successful applicants going on to Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell. Others who choose not to join the RAF usually go on to become equally successful in other walks of life. Whatever choice is made, the UAS offers a unique opportunity for young men and women to learn a great deal about themselves and the workings of the RAF. Most graduates regard their time on the UAS as a demanding, rewarding and outstanding experience.