EMUAS is one of the larger University Air Squadrons with an establishment of 85 students and 6 staff, supported by a team of civilian contractors.
The aim of EMUAS is to provide an insight into what a career in the Royal Air Force might be like in a range of exciting roles.
EMUAS achieves this by providing opportunities to meet serving personnel and experience the life that an RAF person leads through insightful and exciting visits to RAF stations and other associated units.
EMUAS provides an insight into the RAF for university students in the East Midlands. We develop students physically, mentally, and morally by providing military education and training. These skills are valuable to future civilian careers as well as those who pursue a career in the Military.
The activities on EMUAS are delivered under 4 broad headings and all of the students can participate in any of the activities:
Flying training in the Grob Tutor as provided by military qualified flying instructors. Even for those not destined to join the RAF as aircrew, the opportunity exists for any of the students to fly solo in the aircraft or to just take to the skies to gain some valuable air experience.
Adventurous Training covers a wide range of challenging physical activities including sailing, skiing, canoeing, rock climbing and mountain biking, to name just a few. Students of EMUAS get plenty of opportunity to partake of these activities as well as assist with the organisation and delivery of the events. Many of these events are run as groups to help develop team skills, as well as to challenge the individual mentally and physically.
Personal fitness is an important aspect to service life and EMUAS prides itself on its sporting achievements with students engaging in a wide range of events. In the past few years, EMUAS has sent students to both RAF Rugby and RAF Cycling competitions. Sport is a regular part of the squadron calendar with both inter-flight and inter-UAS competitions taking place throughout the year.
Force Development covers a range of activities that constitute the military skills part of our training. Such skills include military ethos, etiquette and conduct, first aid, field craft and military related education in both current and historic military events. It is under the title of Force Development that the visits to RAF stations are conducted and much of the training is provided in the form of field exercises in which leadership skills are the major focus.
Each year EMUAS recruits around 35 students from the region's universities. EMUAS endeavours to attend as many Freshers events as possible to give students a chance to talk to current student members and understand what life EMUAS is like, prior to application.
The selection process for EMUAS only runs for a short period of time and applications will not be accepted beyond the end of September. This year the cut off is 27 September 2026 and the selection process is as follows:
Training Nights are held at the Town Head Quarters on a Monday evening during university term time with transport to and from Town HQ provided by EMUAS. The content of the training nights ranges from developing personal skills such as presentations, debates on current affairs and military topics, to presentations by current and former military personnel on a range of roles. EMUAS also prides itself on having former members who have chosen not to join the RAF, but who have gone on to prestigious careers in civilian life. Many of these former members are invited back to present on how their time on EMUAS helped them become who they are today.
Time
Students of EMUAS standing commitment is 2 years with the ability to extend beyond that if certain criteria are met. As a member of EMUAS you are attested as a RAF Volunteer Reserve (UAS) which facilitates access to all of the RAF related activities we conduct. We recognise that you are at university to complete your degree, so if it transpires that your degree must come first, we can discuss your commitment to the squadron.
Pay
Students receive up to 35 days’ pay per year and by meeting a minimum training requirement are also eligible for a training bounty at the end of each year. The requirement is based around 15 days of training per year and a set number of training hours depending your time on EMUAS. The Squadron provides ample opportunity in the form of the training nights and training activities to easily meet these requirements, so it is in the hands of the student as to just how much time they can afford to commit to the squadron.
Fitness
Fitness is an important part of RAF life. To ensure EMUAS students are best prepared for the activities in which they participate, students are required to maintain an in-date fitness test throughout their time. Failure to maintain this standard can result in discharge if a student is consistently unable to reach the standard.
Men – 8.6 on a Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT/Bleep test), 1.6m horizontal jump, 35kg grip strength.
Women – 6.1 on MSFT, 1.3m horizontal jump, 22 kg grip strength.
1941 Formed as Nottingham University Air Squadron flying from RAF Newton for pre-entry training of RAF aircrew.
1947 The Squadron Crest was granted by HM King George VI and embodies the association between Nottingham, Robin Hood and the Squadron. The "Quiver of Arrows" is symbolic not only of the city of Nottingham but also the Squadrons motto; "Strength in Reserve".
1951 Started flying the De Havilland Chipmunk.
1967 Squadron officially renamed the East Midlands Universities’ Air Squadron in recognition of the support and recruitment of cadets from the Universities of Leicester and Loughborough
1974 After almost 25 years of service, the Chipmunks were replaced by five Scottish Aviation Bulldogs.
2000 RAF Newton closed as an airfield and EMUAS flying operations relocated to RAFC Cranwell.
2006 The University Air Squadrons convert to the Grob Tutor 115E for flying training.
If you would like to find out more about EMUAS or enquire about joining the Squadron, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
East Midlands UAS, Broadgate Army Reserve Centre, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2HF
East Midlands UAS, Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 8HB
