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Overview
Only the Beginning is Difficult
RAF Cosford in Shropshire is a major part of the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT). It is at the centre of the RAF’s mission to deliver flexible, affordable, modern and effective technical training that meets the needs of the UK’s Armed Forces now and into the future.
RAF Apprenticeships delivered at RAF Cosford were recently recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
RAF Cosford is also home to the popular RAF Museum and the world-renowned Cosford Airshow.
Group Captain Baker joined the RAF in 1989 at the age of 16 as an Air Communication and Air Radar Systems Technician, completing his apprenticeship training at RAF Cosford. He was selected for a commission in the Engineer Branch in 1995.
In June 2017, following various tours in the UK and overseas, he was appointed as RAF Cosford’s Station Commander (28 years after beginning his career on the Station). He is also Commandant of the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering with responsibility for aerospace training for all three Services.
RAF Cosford, Albrighton, Wolverhampton, WV7 3EX.
The RAF School of Physical Training is responsible for the delivery of specialist training to Personnel Branch Officers and the RAF's Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) throughout their careers.
The School has responsibility for course and syllabus design, accreditation and validation of learning, and through-life support of PTIs.
The Defence School of Photography (DSOP) is responsible for the delivery of both professional and operational photographic and video training across Defence. A lodger school at RAF Cosford, DSOP is subordinate to the Joint Intelligence Training Group who is the Training Delivery Authority for DSOP training. DSOP is a British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) accredited Training Provider and as such is held in the highest regard nationally. The professional photography course provides DSOP Trainees with a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Photography and Accredited Prior Experiential Learning contributing to a BA Hons in Photography through the Open College of Arts
The No 1 School of Technical Training (No 1 SofTT) provides flexible, affordable, modern and effective aeronautical engineering (AE) training to students employed by the Royal Air Force and to a variety of International students under the auspices of International Defence Training. The School offers an extensive range of Advanced Apprenticeship courses spanning Mechanical, Avionics, Weapons and Survival Equipment disciplines, as well as Human Factors and Expedient Repair. Around 2000 competent, safe and motivated aircraft engineers successfully graduate annually ready to contribute to current and contingent operational commitments for Defence
Number 1 Radio School (No 1 RS) is part of the Defence School of Communication and Information Systems. Located at RAF Cosford, its mission is to train Engineering (Communications-Electronics) Officers and Trade Group 4 (TG4) personnel to agreed output standards in order to enable cyberspace capabilities for the RAF and Defence. Its focus is on meeting training needs for the delivery of information management and network-enabled services, alongside equipping personnel with the skills required to maintain and operate enduring systems. No 1 RS incorporates the Aerial Erector School at RAF Digby, which trains TG4 Communication Infrastructure Technicians.
Resilience Wing, part of the Robson Academy of Resilience, equips the RAF’s training cadre and specialist ground instructors with the individual skills to develop and sustain personal resilience. The Wing governs, directs, designs and delivers Training Officer and Physical Training Instructor specialist training; Human Factors Facilitator and Supervisor training; Stress Management and Resilience Training; and provides Guidance and support for RAF station Force Development Squadrons.
Contact Details
Email: cos-bandmaster-vba@mod.uk
Phone: 01902 704048
Rehearsal Night
Monday 7.30PM to 9.45PM
How to book/ join
Contact the Voluntary Band Instructor
www.cosfordvoluntaryband.co.uk
Aerosystems Engineering and Management Training School (AE&MTS) provides a range of professional engineering and management training for personnel within the RAF Engineer Branch and Trade aircraft specialisations. Our Academic Principles Organisation provides a Foundation Degree programme for RAF personnel on the internal commissioning Basic Entry Scheme (BES). We also provide the Engineer Officer Foundation Training (EOFT) course for RAF Aerosystems Engineer Officers upon graduation from Initial Officer Training, giving them the building blocks in RAF engineering management, safety, quality, standards, and culture required ahead of their first tours as Junior Engineer Officers. For Trade Group 1 aircraft technicians, we provide phase three Supervisor and Junior Manager courses on promotion to corporal and sergeant respectively. Finally, we provide the Senior Technicians’ Airworthiness Course (STAC) for flight sergeants and warrant officers selected for key roles within the Military Air Environment.
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) took place on Saturday 23 June and RAF Cosford showcased some of its young women who chose
On 10 June RAF Cosford threw open its gates for its annual air show. This year’s show was the biggest ever with 60,000 members of the public attending.
As part of the pre-World War Two RAF Expansion Plan, the requirement for additional aircraft storage and repair facilities and a network of Aircraft Storage Units (ASUs) was recognised. A site near Shifnal, Shropshire, was selected for an ASU to be erected.
Additionally, the upsurge of manpower requirements was soon to overwhelm the RAF's existing training units at Halton, Cranwell and Uxbridge. Further analysis showed that a succession of Technical Training Schools would ease the manpower and knowledge gaps and it was suggested that the ASUs could house the new schools.
Building started at Cosford in August 1937. The RAF's No 2 School of Technical Training was formed on 15 July 1938. By the outbreak of World War Two, Cosford had 3,580 trainees consisting of apprentices in the trades of (Fitter) Engines, Airframes, Armourers, plus a significant number of Flight Mechanics and Flight Riggers (however, the apprentice element was ordered back to RAF Halton in March 1940).
In March 1939 No 9 Maintenance Unit took up residence at Cosford, its initial role being to store, maintain, modify, repair and, ultimately, issue aircraft to operational units.
Throughout the war years many and varied units came to Cosford, (an Officers' School, No 12 Ferry Pilots Pool, a Czechoslovak Depot, School of Musketry to name but a few); some remained for many years while others departed relatively quickly.
A major RAF Hospital was added to the site in 1940 and towards the end of the war it was decided that repatriated RAF PoWs would be processed through RAF Cosford.
Nos 106 and 108 Personnel Reception Centres were established and over 13,000 ex-PoWs had passed through RAF Cosford by 23 August 1948 when the units were eventually closed down.
The hospital continued to serve the RAF and local community until it closed in 1977.
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