Page 28 - RAF Magazine
P. 28
MODERN DAY 2018
‘IT’S OUR JOB TO
PROTECT THE SKIES’
Flying Officers Charles and Colin Ihe, 33, have Tell us a little about your current role within the RAF...
risen rapidly though the ranks of the RAF since Colin: We are both Flying Officers, which is our rank, and we
are logisticians. At the moment we are based at RAF Halton
joining three years ago. Now awarded the in Buckinghamshire completing our training but we will go on
Queen’s Commission, which empowers them our first tour in August.
to lead others on behalf of the Crown, they What were you doing beforehand?
are set to begin their first tours of duty this Colin: We used to run an intellectual property business
summer. The twins, whose parents hail together, which we founded while we were at London
from Nigeria and who grew up in Harlesden, Metropolitan University studying International
north-west London, had never considered a Relations and Politics. We were working with companies on
logo design, merchandise and so on. Then one day we took our
career with the Air Force – until a trip to the niece and nephew to the RAF Museum in Hendon and I was
RAF Museum gave them food for thought. fascinated. I was almost 29 so it didn’t occur to me that I might
They talk to Alexa Baracaia about their join, but it started playing on my mind. I kept thinking, “you
whirlwind journey... want to travel, you want to do something out of the ordinary”,
so I did my research, applied and got
the call back.
Charles: It’s a case of “his story is my story”. We both went to
the museum that day and we were intrigued by an organisation
that has done so much around the world.
What was it in particular
that appealed? Charles: “We’re
Charles: We were interested
in how the RAF fitted into usually the
key points in history – first responders
the Cold War, 9/11. And for any disasters
we saw so much of the
humanitarian work that had around the world –
been done… the Air Force Hurricane
conducting food drops in Irma, delivering
Ethiopia, countless other food, getting
examples over time…
people
How do you see your to safety”
job in the RAF?
Charles: It’s our
job to protect the skies but also we’re usually the
first responders for any disasters around the world
– Hurricane Irma, delivering food, getting people to
safety.
You’ve had a rapid rise through the ranks –
becoming officers in barely more than three years is
a quick move.
Colin: It doesn’t usually happen so quickly but I was
29 when I joined, which is older than the norm, so when
I got the opportunity to apply to be commissioned as an
officer I jumped at the chance. My experience as an airman
along with my degree qualification and civilian experience all
stood me in good stead for the selection process and added
CHARLES IHE
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