A historic first for the Royal Air Force, as non-commissioned Airmen and Officers have graduated together at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire on Thursday 4th October, 2018. The special event marks the end of their training and entry into the Royal Air Force, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary this year.
The 91 Recruits, 106 Officer Cadets and 10 Commissioned Warrant Officers performed an impressive parade in front of their proud families, before witnessing a fitting flypast including a Battle of Britain Spitfire and the RAF’s latest fighter jet capability the F-35 Lightning, marking the proud heritage of the Service and its current fifth-generation air power capability.
“In this, the Royal Air Force’s 100th anniversary year, we are holding today’s joint graduation to underscore a principle which is at the heart of our character, ethos and spirit as a Service. From its inception, the RAF was conceived as being different, with a focus not on background but only on merit and potential, wherever it might lie."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier
The Chief of the Air Staff
The joint graduation marks the conclusion of the official RAF100 celebrations which have commemorated the first 100 years of the world’s first independent air force. As part of the legacy of the Centenary work is underway for a single point of entry for Airmen and Officers at RAF College Cranwell. The single gateway approach is based on the meritocratic principles of Lord Trenchard – the RAF’s founding father – who created the Service on the idea of opportunities for all, based on merit and regardless of background.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier attended the graduation as the Reviewing Officer. He reflected on the importance of the occasion.
"Today’s event reaches back to these founding principles and looks forward to our second century, as we strive to constantly innovate, challenge perceptions and improve even further our already world-class training. In future years, there will be a single point of entry into the RAF, with all of our initial training conducted at RAF Cranwell and everyone graduating from this iconic location, exactly as they have done today.
"Our excellent people are central to the future of the Royal Air Force, ensuring we enter our second century confident and capable in our vital mission to deliver our nation’s air and space power.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier
The Chief of the Air Staff