Lyneham show their support for Armed Forces Day 2010
21st June 2010
The whole country reflects on the incredible service, sacrifice and dedication that our armed services give on our behalf, more than ever on the week when the 300th service personal has died in Afghanistan. Of course the 300th death is no more or less tragic than the 299 that came before. We are paying a high price for keeping our country safe, for making our world a safer place.

Our thoughts and those of the nation's are with the families and friends of all those servicemen and women who have fallen but our resolve and determination to see the mission through remains steadfast. Their efforts will bring security and stability to Afghanistan and prevent it from once again becoming a base from which terrorists can attack the UK and our allies around the world.

Armed Forces Day (AFD) is an annual opportunity for the nation to Show their Support for the men and women of the Armed Forces community, which includes serving personnel and their families, veterans and the Cadet Forces.  The day aims to raise awareness of and support for the Armed Forces community and highlight the outstanding contribution they make to this country.  People across the United Kingdom will celebrate the achievements of British servicemen and women past, present and future on the second annual Armed Forces Day on Saturday 26 June 2010.

Armed Forces personnel are engaged in Afghanistan and other operations for this country, often in difficult and dangerous conditions.  Your support to them and their families is really important to sustain their success.

RAF Lyneham has been flying the flag in support of Armed Forces Day.  Personnel from the active station are constantly deployed to Afghanistan, supporting operations, and they are overwhelmed with the public’s support of their role. The Hercules carries over 9000 personnel around Afghanistan in sometimes austere conditions and can expect to airdrop approximately 100 tonnes of stores to frontline troops per month.  To enable them to carry out these duties safely, a wide range of personnel make up the support network of the Hercules fleet.

A cross section of the station personnel are photographed in the accompanying pictures, and this what they had this to say about the Armed Forces Day:

Corporal Fuller (Physical Education Flight) 'My friends and family are really proud of me. I will be on guard on the 26th of June, protecting the camp, making sure that everyone is safe.'

Cpl Spoors (ROyal Air Force Police)'I think it is brilliant the public are supporting our troops in any way they can'

Rev (Flt Lt) Colin O'Dell; 'As Station Chaplain my role is to provide pastoral care and support for service personnel and their families. It is not only a highlight but also a privilege to be a listening ear when people come to share when life is going well or not so well even at my advanced age I still have a mother who is immensely proud'

SAC Kate Stewart (Dental Centre) 'I feel it is important our service personnel, particularly those serving on operational tours, are recognized for all their hard work and commitment'

Flight Sergeant Rowell (Catering); 'During the last 22 years service I have witnessed many highlights ...the camaraderie found within our armed forces is the most focal of all'

Flt Lt Savage (Captain 47 Squadron) 'It is fantastic the public are supporting Armed Forces Day. It means more than praise from your boss or your peers and makes you feel you are doing something worthy'

Corporal Burns (Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron) Working as a Flight Nurse has been the highlight of my career so far, my friends and family are very proud and supportive of me’.

Flying Officer Craig Patterson (XXIV Squadron co-pilot) 'Armed Forces day is a good way to improve the relationship between the armed forces and the public'

SAC Zoe Crawford (Personnel Support) 'At first my Mum was concerned and my Dad was worried that I might decide it wasn't for me. However they were both very supportive and are proud of where I am now. They can see how much I love the job and lifestyle and my Dad is now quite jealous! I will be going to one of the local events near RAF Lyneham to show my support and enjoy the atmosphere.'

Sgt Richard 'Jimmy' Saville & members of RAF Lyneham TAC AT Fire Section display their team building skills during a break whilst providing safety cover for a RAF Lyneham based 24 Sqn Hercules C130 J  which was carrying out rough strip landing & take off training on Pembrey Sands, South Wales.

They were asked the following questions:

Why are you supporting Armed Forces Day (AFD)?
"We will be showing support to everyone in our Military family.  We all have a specific role and it's important that we acknowledge the roles of other units and how we need each other to operate".

What does it mean to you that the public are supporting AFD?
"Knowing that the boys and girls in the air, on the sea or on the ground have full support of the Great British public has a huge effect on morale".

What is your role in the military and what was your highlight?    
"I am a Royal Air Force Fire fighter, currently employed at the TAC AT Fire, RAF Lyneham.  We operate at tactical landing strips on beaches and in fields, providing fire cover for the RAF C130 (Hercules) aircraft fleet".

How do your friends and family feel about you having served?        
"There is a little bit of banter, but they are very proud of me and my role as a Royal Air Force Fire fighter".

What will you be doing on Sat 26 June to celebrate AFD?
"Hopefully, we won’t be tasked and I will get the chance to raise a glass to the boys and girls on the front line".