ROYAL AUXILIARY AIR FORCE I 100 th ANNIVERSARY
2622 ( Highland ) Squadron RAuxAF Regt
“ Seasaidh Sinn Ar Tir ” which is translated as “ We stand our ground ”
2622 ( Highland ) Squadron , based at RAF Lossiemouth , is the northernmost RAuxAF unit in the United Kingdom and was formed in 1979 to assist with the ground defence of that airfield . Initially , personnel were recruited solely from the local area but recruiting now extends as far south as Edinburgh and Glasgow and to the North , East and West Coasts of Scotland .
The Sqn is with Part-Time Reserves in the RAF Regt and RAF Police professions , and a small team of permanent staff . The badge of 2622 Highland Sqn , approved in 1985 , depicts the Burghead Bull , derived from stone carvings found within the Pictish fort of Burghead , seven miles west of Lossiemouth and carries the Gaelic Motto .
Sqn personnel are entitled to wear the Grey Douglas tartan kilt as part of their Mess uniform , a privilege granted to all Scottish RAuxAF Sqns by King Edward VIII .
Throughout the 1980s the Sqn trained specifically for its role in the defence of RAF Lossiemouth . Although not equipped with the manoeuvrability , protection , and firepower of the regular RAF Regt sqns , there was certainly an abundance of local knowledge , experience and dedication that could have been brought to bear . A number of personnel also participated in a trial to determine the viability of employing Reserves on the Rapier surface-to-air missile system .
In the 1990s the Sqn provided its first volunteers for operational duties with the RAF Regt in Bosnia , Cyprus , and Kuwait . During this time , training also became aligned with the need for providing sustainment of the regular RAF Regt .
The focus on collective training and exercise deployments at flight and squadron level was replaced with much greater emphasis on the maintenance of individual skills and currency .
In February 2003 the first compulsory mobilisation was called , for Operation TELIC and the Sqn provided 53 personnel to augment the regular RAF Regt Field Sqns . Since then squadron members have been mobilised and deployed in support of the ongoing high tempo of operations in both Iraq , Afghanistan , and the Middle East . In addition , 3 members of the Squadron were mobilised in 2012 on Op OLYMPIC . During the COVID crisis in 2020 , 17 personnel were mobilised to support local government on Mobile Testing teams as well as undertaking security duties at RAF Lossiemouth as well as for the newly arrived P8- Poseidon , temporarily based at Kinloss Airfield pending the improvements to the runway at RAF Lossiemouth . From 2022 there was a return to supporting the RAF Regt sqns of the re-named Combat and Readiness Force , ( CRF ), on operations , this time on OP TIMBERN at Akrotiri in Cyprus . The Squadron mobilised personnel in support of 51 Sqn RAF Regt for this operation in 2022 / 3 . Proud of its achievements and reputation for excellence , 2622 ( Highland ) Sqn has had much success in a variety of inter-service competitions .
Furthermore , the Sqn has also collected the Robins Trophy ( awarded to the RAuxAF unit or squadron which had done the most to improve the good name and efficiency of the RAuxAF ) in 1984 , 1987 , 1997 and 2003 .
On 30 th September 2006 , the Chief of Air Staff presented 2622 ( Highland ) Sqn with its Standard in recognition of 25 years of unbroken service and in so doing ; the Sqn became the very first RAuxAF RAF Auxiliary Regt Field Squadron to receive this honour .
36