Page 94 - RAPTC 23/24
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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
  4Regiment Army Air Corps (4AAC) are held at Very High Readiness (VHR) and optimised for warfighting
on behalf of Joint Helicopter Command (JHC). With an ever-changing Geo- Political climate, the Unit’s warfighting output is critical.
4 AAC has had another busy year, the tempo of Operations coupled with changeovers in several key personalities. The Unit waved farewell to Lt Col A Harris and welcomed the new Commanding Officer Lt Col D Lambert.
The nature of attack aviation is fast-paced and there have been several deployments in all corners of the world. 656 Squadron have had an incredibly busy year; with deployments on Ex CLOCKWORK (Norway), into a month on ship, immediately followed by a HER activation, onto Op CHAMELEON (Sweden), then being activated on Op CHAMBRAY and then back to Norway!
The rest of ATF-1 including, 662 Squadron 3 AAC, 845 NAS, 47 RA, TSW, MMU, DFR and others were deployed on Ex PINION OMAN during Aug-Dec 23. This was a major deployment which 654 and RHQ were instrumental in the planning and execution of the Exercise. The SP deployed were still able to conduct PT due to the use of a deployable gym forward mounted at Al’J’Aluni Airfield, or the facilities at Renaissance Village, Duqm. With the purchase of PTE and sports kit the SP deployed had a good lived-experience, as well as continuing
Ex BIG PUSH Team Members
4 REGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS
SSgt (SSI) J Kemp RAPTC
 to improve their physical and mental health. The AT package delivered on Ex PINION OMAN was of note, with circa 127 SP doing a mixture of activities in an incredible location.
While the forward mounted departments were overseas, the SP left in camp continued with normal business. The 3 Units within Wattisham Flying Station competed in Ex Big Push, a 24-hour charity land rover push, to support the Children’s Appeal Ipswich Hospital. Which raised circa £10,000. It is with great pride I can say that the 4 AAC team were victorious. The planning committee was awarded the ‘The Ward Booth Gazelle Trophy,’ this is awarded for the individual, group that has brought the greatest credit to the AAC in-year.
The Unit also continued to compete in the Commanding Officer’s Cup, which resulted in REME Workshop being crowned the 2023 winners. Sport plays a huge part of Regimental life, in particular our Basketball and Badminton teams have had huge successes, taking silver at the UK Centre Championships and winning the Army Unit Cup, respectively. AT is encouraged by the CofC with over 10 Expeds and multiple attendances to Joint Service AT (JSAT) courses.
4 Regt are the lead Unit within ATF-1 and are ready for whatever 2024 may bring. We will remain on VHR and continue our Operational output but, as always, smiling along the way.
  SSgt (SSI) J A Kemp – AH-64 Apache




















































































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