24 Hours in the Middle East

Royal Air Force Personnel from various Expeditionary Air Wings are supporting Air, Maritime and Land Forces in the Middle East, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

83 Expeditionary Air Group (EAG) are the RAF’s operational headquarters in the Middle East. They are responsible for the control and direction of 4 Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) supporting Op KIPION and Op SHADER as well as the delivery of UK national and Defence objectives in the regions.

83 EAG’s area of responsibility extends from the Southern end of the Arabian Gulf to the Eastern Mediterranean and encompasses numerous relationships and alliances across the region.

Take a look at 24 images, from 83 EAG, taken within a 24 hour period across the MiddleEast. 📸

• 0000 — Flight Sergeant Atkin a Loadmaster Instructor from 24 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, overseeing the loading of freight onto an RAF A400M Atlas, whilst on Operation KIPION.
• 0100 — Senior Aircraftsman(Technical) Jones, working on the Typhoon aircraft whilst deployed for four months to 903 EAW in support of Op SHADER. He is responsible for all the aircraft electrical and avionics, dealing with flight systems, communications, radar, wiring, defence sub-systems, navigation, recording, displays and flying controls.

• 0200 — Corporal Shilton carrying out an inspection and servicing of the refuelling drogue basket on an A330 Voyager after an operational mission on Op SHADER. The Voyager is deployed to provide strategic air-to-air refuelling, air transport and aeromedical evacuation capabilities.
• 0300 — Senior Aircraftsman Fooks is seen having just completed the task of refuelling an RAF Voyager during a night time servicing. Fooks is deployed for four months at 903 EAW as part of Op SHADER. He is tasked with refuelling all aircraft as well as visiting aircraft. He also is responsible for sweeping the airfield to reduce the risk of foreign object damage (FOD).
• 0400 — Senior Aircraftsman Flint is a Logistics Specialist serving a four-month deployment on 906 Expeditionary Air Wing in the Middle East. His role is to provide logistical support for 906 Expeditionary Air Wing and Op KIPION, ensuring all equipment arrives in theatre whilst meeting strict deadlines.

• 0500 — Senior Aircraftsman Gilbourne is a survival equipment fitter by trade and is deployed to 903 EAW in support of Typhoon Detachment. He responsibilities for the maintenance and servicing of helmet-mounted symbology systems, helmet equipment assemblies, aircrew equipment assemblies, flight jackets and anti-gravity trousers.

• 0600 — Corporal Curtis is an RAF Policeman serving a six-month deployment with 902 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. He is normally based at RAF Akrotiri and is responsible for all policing, security and force protection, pertaining to 902 EAW in order to maintain a safe environment to enable operational outputs.
• 0700—Loadmaster Sergeant Cliften of 70 Sqn, based at RAF Brize Norton. As loadmaster, he is responsible for safe loading, transport and unloading of aerial cargoes on A400M Atlas. 70 Sqn operates the A400M Atlas and fly cargo and personnel around the JOA (Joint Operating Areas) of the Middle East.

• 0800— Warrant Officer Gillet is the Detachment Warrant Officer for 906 Expeditionary Air Wing Based in the Middle East. Gillet is responsible for service discipline and conduct of all personnel on the Wing.
• 0900 — Sergeant Fowler is a Royal Air Force Medic serving a four-month deployment on 902 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. His role in theatre is to provide primary and emergency health care to all 902 EAW personnel. This includes monitoring the outside temperatures using a wet bulb globe thermometer in order to effectively manage the risk of heat-injury whilst working in desert conditions.

• 1000— Senior Aircraftsman Morgan utilising his downtime on operations to train in the gym. As a Personnel Support clerk, he greets new arrivals at the air terminal, takes them through the arrivals process and ensures all claims are processed and in theatre allowances are correct.
• 1100 — Corporal Wise is an RAF Photographer and is currently on operations working as the 83 Expeditionary Air Wing Photographer. Being an RAF photographer is a Media Operations role, with the incumbent likely to deploy across the Middle East on various Operations under the 83 EAG umbrella.

• 1200 — Senior Aircraftsman Douch is a chef from 3MCS (Mobile Catering Squadron) RAF Wittering. Douch is deployed to 903 Expeditionary Air Wing to provide meals to Op SHADER personnel, keeping them fit and healthy to perform their duties.
• 1300— Squadron Leader Lee is an A400M Atlas pilot with 70 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton. She is part of a crew that rotates into theatre for a period of a few weeks to transport cargo and personnel between the EAW locations of the Middle East.

• 1400— Corporal Feest is a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) serving a four-month deployment on 902 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. He runs a fitness circuit for personnel on 902 EAW, making sure safety and correct technique are observed during the session, minimising the risk to health and maximising physical output.

• 1500—Flight Lieutenant Tadman is an engineering officer on operations in Cyprus. Her role involves liaising with the numerous deployed force elements, providing off-aircraft engineering and infrastructure support in order for the platforms to operate effectively and safely at RAF Akrotiri.
• 1600 — Senior Aircraftsman (Technician) Jenkinson is a Cyberspace Communication Specialist, he is supporting 906 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. As a Cyberspace Communications Specialist, he is responsible for the technology at the heart of the RAF. It is his job to set up, operate and maintain the technology the RAF relies on to communicate effectively throughout the Joint Operations Area.

• 1700 — Corporal Wood, an armourer, stands in front of a Paveway IV Missile and an RAF Typhoon. As an armourer in the Middle East, his job is to prepare and maintain all weapon systems and munitions on operation 24 hours a day.
• 1800 — Senior Aircraftsman Carpenter is an RAF Fireman serving on a 4-month deployment to the Middle East. He works in a Coalition Firestation on the Airbase along with other Personnel. As a coalition unit, they provide a capability that ensures the safety of the aircrew and passengers of the broader Middle East. They also provide support to enable airpower and contribute to sustained air operations.
• 1900 — Senior Aircraftsman (Technician) Nokes is a General Technician serving a four-month deployment on 902 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. He is responsible for mechanical maintenance and rectification of all Air Service Equipment required for 902 Expeditionary Air Wing Movements and Flying Ops.

• 2000 —Senior Aircraftsman (Technician) Beavis is General Technician serving a four-month deployment on 902 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. He is responsible for electrical rectification of all ground equipment on 902 Expeditionary Air Wing.
• 2100 — Reverend (Wing Commander) Jones delivers a mindfulness and meditation session to personnel on operations in the Middle East. It is his responsibility to offer pastoral care, spiritual support and counsel, ceremonial and broader welfare and spiritual guidance.

• 2200 — A member of the C-130J Hercules Air Mobility Protection Team (AMPT). The team of gunners deploys with all Hercules tasks on Op SHADER, providing intimate protection to aircrew, passengers and airframe. The AMPT are specifically trained to support the Air Mobility Force with the ability to counter insider threats, espionage attempts and provide first response to a Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear (CBRN) incident.
• 2300 — Senior Aircraftsman Lockwood is an Air and Space Operations Specialist serving a four-month deployment on 902 Expeditionary Air Wing on operations in the Middle East. Normally based at RAF(U) Swanwick, in Hampshire, he contributes to the mission of 902 Expeditionary Air Wing by supporting flying operations, by submitting flight plans and ensuring that they have all the relevant information they need to fly.

Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here: