The Minister of State For The Armed Forces, The Right Honourable Mike Penning MP for Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, visited RAF Halton on Thursday 12th January to see the vital training the Royal Air Force (RAF) has to offer.
A former British Army soldier, the Minister met Station Staff and RAF recruits as they were put through their paces at the Recruit Training Squadron (RTS). RAF Halton is home to basic training for regular airmen and airwomen, leadership and management training for non-commissioned officers, and various lodger units.
Speaking afterwards, the Minister said visiting RAF Halton had been: “An absolute thrill.”
“I wanted to go back to see the sort of training I used to do all those years ago as a young recruit,” he said. “It’s changed enormously but the core is exactly the same: How do we get the best armed forces in the world? The answer is to train them in the best way.
“The enthusiasm of the young people here has been absolutely brilliant. When they leave here after 10 weeks, they will do things their families, their loved ones never dreamt they were able to do.“
Station Commander, Group Captain James Brayshaw, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister and to be given the opportunity for him to meet our people and show him the excellent training we deliver here at RAF Halton.”
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