Life As A Field Gunner

SAC Matthew Griffiths

When I passed out from the Trainee Gunner Course in June 1999 I was posted to the Support Weapons Flight on II Squadron RAF Regiment. When you are posted to II Squadron you have to undertake the demanding Pre Parachute Training Course at RAF Honington and then the Parachute Course at RAF Brize Norton. I completed 8 qualifying parachute jumps in 2000 and was awarded the coveted parachute wings. My first jump with the squadron was made into France, I also fired live mortars for the first time during this exercise.

In January 2001, I made my first operational jump as part of Operation SILKMAN in Sierra Leone. I was also selected to represent the RAF Regiment on a long-range reconnaissance patrol course in Belize. Soon after I was deployed on operations again, this time as part of Operation TELIC in Iraq, where we fired our mortars in anger.

Since I have been in the RAF Regiment I have qualified as a HGV driver; I have also gained nationally recognised rock climbing qualifications. I have become a better communicator and a much more confident individual during my RAF Regiment career and have made many lifelong friends. I hope to meet the standard required for promotion and one day to return to a field squadron or possibly a Combat Recovery unit.