About the Squadron

No 7630 Squadron is responsible for providing personnel for information- and intelligence-gathering tasks to support current operations. In keeping with the ever-changing demands of current operations, 7630 Squadron has moved away from its linguistic role to become more closely involved in the area of interviewing and debriefing.

The Squadron works closely with its sister units in the Royal Naval Reserve and the Territorial Army as well as Regulars in all three Services. In order to ensure that the Squadron has the widest possible pool in which to recruit from, it recruits on a national basis. Where a potential recruit resides should be no bar to recruitment.

Job opportunities

The Squadron’s current focus is on recruiting airmen/women and non-commissioned officers (NCOs), although there are limited opportunities for service as a commissioned officer. The Squadron is looking for mature, robust people capable of supporting intelligence-gathering tasks in the field. Suitable candidates must be confident, motivated, alert, tactful, adaptable, enthusiastic, able to operate under stressful conditions, and have excellent interpersonal skills.

The Squadron would also be interested in hearing from airmen/women, NCOs and officers from the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, as well as members of the Territorial Army and Royal Naval Reserve, who are looking for a change in their Reservist careers.

Ex-Regular personnel from all three Services are also encourged to apply.

Initial training

Unless recently having served as members of either the Regular or Reserve forces, new recruits will attend the Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton. This will provide individuals with the basic knowledge and skills required to become an effective member of the Reserve forces.

Professional training

Having successfully completed BRTC, personnel will then undergo a training course to equip them with the skills necessary to work as members of the Squadron. The course lasts for two weeks and takes place at the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre at Chicksands in Bedfordshire.

Continuation training

All Squadron personnel attend a monthly training weekend, usually held at Chicksands. These weekends are designed to build on skills gained during professional training and help provide individuals with skills and experience that will help them to become effective operators during future deployments. A 12- to 15-day period of continuous training is held every training year. As well as helping to reinforce professional training, it gives the the opportunity for members of 7630 Squadron to live and work together as a Squadron. This period can include shooting, first aid, military skills and fieldcraft, as well as visits to RAF bases and other military establishments. There are also opportunities for Squadron members to take part in adventurous training, either with the Squadron or with the wider RAuxAF and RAF.

History

No 7630 Flt RAFVR was originally formed in 1958 to provide a pool of Russian linguists for intelligence duties. In 1972, the unit departed from a purely linguistic role to provide information officers for intelligence analysis and briefings on a major NATO exercise. This area of work saw the first non-linguists employed and eventually gave rise to a dedicated VR Intelligence Unit, No 7006 Flt, which was formed in 1986 at HQ Strike Command. A number of 7630 Flt information officers transferred to 7006 Flt, which in turn went on to become 7006 (VR) Squadron.

On 5 April 1997, following the amalgamation of the RAuxAF and the RAFVR, 7630 Flt became 7630 (VR) Intelligence Squadron. In 2000, the Intelligence Reserves reorganised and 7630 Squadron, together with 7006 and 7010 Squadrons came under the command of the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington. Owing to the nature of their work alongside various ground units, 7630 Squadron has always been based with the Intelligence Corps. Although administered by Headquarters Intelligence Reserves at RAF Waddington, the Squadron’s home base is at Chicksands, the Intelligence Corps Headquarters.

During the first Gulf War, members worked as part of the Defence Debriefing Team, interviewing evacuees from Kuwait, and obtaining useful information and intelligence. Some Squadron members have also supported operations in the Balkans during the 1990s, both on the ground and by debriefing refugees. Since March 2003, over 50 per cent of 7630 Squadron have deployed in support of Operation Telic in Iraq, and the Squadron is continuing to support ongoing overseas operations

Interested?

The Squadron is actively seeking personnel to fill a number of posts within the Squadron establishment and has immediate vacancies for sergeants, corporals and airmen. Anyone looking for an interesting spare-time career can enquire online or by calling the Recruiting Office on 01522 727083.