Great news for 606 Squadron photographer.

Senior Aircraftman James Stier is celebrating today after success in the annual RAF Photographic Competition.




SAC Stier, a 27 year old reservist who serves as the Squadron Photographer with 606 (Chiltern) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), won a total of three awards including the prestigious “PR Photograph of the Year” award for a photograph of a Merlin helicopter conducting pre-deployment in El Centro, California before deployment to Afghanistan. Described as “a talented young reservist” by his Commanding Officer, SAC Stier also won the video category for the 606 Squadron promotional video filmed during a Squadron training exercise.

The video can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_goWj1k3AhA&feature=youtube_gdata_player




James joined the RAuxAF in July 2008 and has been the Squadron Photographer with 606 Squadron since then where he has taken part in numerous training exercises. The winning image was taken during his deployment on behalf of his home Station, RAF Benson, to Exercise MERLIN VORTEX in El Centro, California. He obtained a significant number of images to reflect the environmental and tactical pre-deployment training that the Merlin Force were undertaking prior to their first deployment in support of Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan.







James is a photographer in his civilian life but, as James explains, the role he completes in the RAuxAF can be quite different:

“It’s hard to compare as both roles bring vastly different challenges. As a civilian my role is always changing, especially now with moving image. In the RAF it’s great to know I can always be hands on with the camera doing what I enjoy the most, without have to focus on some of the downsides to running your own company. My RAF career also pushes me in different ways; the motivation isn't business focused, it’s more about the people and the way the public interpret the work they undertake. I see firsthand what an amazing job all military personnel do, and being able to show that through my work is constant motivation.”

Originally from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, SAC Stier currently commutes to his commitments with 606 Squadron from his home in Sheffield. James was motivated to join the RAF to challenge himself further than he can outside the Armed Forces. He explains, “After I got back from working in Asia on a project that saw the production team walk from east to west of the Himalayas in some really tough conditions, I knew that I wanted to push myself in similar ways, and the RAF provides those challenges. The full time regular forces did appeal to me but the reserves allows me to keep developing my business, without sacrificing all that I’ve worked for. Plus working with helicopters is cool.”




The competition celebrates the production of some of the finest Royal Air Force imagery from the past year, which culminates in an awards ceremony at the historic Royal Air Force Club in London. The awards were presented by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. He said ‘The competition entries this year are fantastic and showcase not only the talent of our Royal Air Force Photographers but also the tremendous capability of our people and equipment. These dynamic images reflect the breadth of Service life and the critical contribution that our personnel are making to global operations, in particular our support to operations in Afghanistan.’

Photographs (all images MoD Crown Copyright):

Top – Senior Aircraftman James Stier, 606 Squadron Photographer

Middle – Senior Aircraftman Stier’s winning image, entitled “Over the Desert” and depicting a Merlin crewman training over the Californian desert during the Afghanistan pre-deployment training exercise dubbed ‘Exercise MERLIN VORTEX’

Bottom – Senior Aircraftman Stier in action on a 606 Squadron training weekend

Editor: Nikki Hamilton, RAF Benson



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A great weekends training on exercise Halton Kite

So we have just returned from another training weekend for RAF Reservists this time we made the short journey across to RAF Halton.

The idea of the weekend was to split people into a number of small sections that would then carry out some leadership, personal development and air power study training. All agreed that it was a great way to spend a weekend and made everybody that little bit more aware of where the fit into a team and what they can contribute.

First task build the accommodation for the weekend.







Then it was off to the recently renovated WW1 trench system that was used for training before departing to the front line.








Some really eye opening facts were put across, especially as one of the squadron members present had a relative that had passed through the system on his training.







Next onto a bit of studying and discussion on the use of Air Power in history, if we don't know where we have come from how can we know where we are going, so this was a great eye opener for some.








Like all military exercises we can always find time for a bit of drill, just to keep the mind occupied of course.









Then into Friday evening with a local navigation exercise, not a great distance around Wendover Woods, but enough to get the teams working together.















But after a few hours out on the hill its back to our great chefs for some hot soup. What would we do without these guys.







After a hearty breakfast on Saturday morning it was a chance to really challenge those fears and get onto the high ropes course.







The facility is just great with challenges to meet all skill levels, even the leap of faith!







Sunday saw some more traditional Leadership and Command task work. This is key to making Squadron staff valuable members of the military. As our personnel will always deploy as individuals it's key that they can fit into existing teams.






Some employers would pay quite a lot for this sort of training, we are lucky that we can provide this as part of being a member of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.






The weekend finished off with a parade and medal presentation to 11 members of 606 Squadron, either for service in Afghanistan or for Long Service with the RAF Reserves. Some of these guys were being recognised for 15 years service!






A great weekend for all of those present, and lots of thought provoking activities to be used in the future.

Sqn staff prepare for a weekends training

Once again it looks like the bi-annual Sqn exercise will be graced with good weather.




606(Chiltern) Sqn staff are preparing for a weekend of leadership and team development training.

Expect images and feedback from the weekend to be posted here as the days progress.


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Sqn cyclists hand over more than £1500

Members of 606 (Chiltern) Squadron have recently handover more than £1500 to the British Heart Foundation, in memory of one of their fallen colleagues.

Corporal John Peacock sadly died in June 2009 of an unexpected heart attack whilst training with the RAF Benson based unit.

John from near Witney had been a member of 606 for many years and had seen service in Iraq during the invasion process and most recently served in the Falkland Islands, he was training for his next tour this time in Afghanistan.

Colleagues from Benson cycled from the home of the Tactical Supply Wing at MOD Stafford to RAF Benson a distance of nearly 130 miles.



A cheque was recently handed to the British Heart Foundation, together with Johns parents.

MT Drivers get their hands on new trucks.

Motor Transport drivers from the Logistics Flight of 606 Squadron have spent a weekend honing their skills using the new into service MAN Support Vehicles.



Drivers from 606 are employed supporting the Joint Helicopter Force across the globe, and training on this new type of vehicle is vital to keeping their skills current.



A long drive from the base in Oxfordshire to a training area in Hampshire, followed by some off road driving and camouflage and concealment training gave the drivers a chance to get used to using some of the new equipment on the vehicle.

A weekend of Adventurous Training.

Between 6th and 8th August 2010, sixteen members of 606 Squadron’s Operations flight accompanied by two RAF instructors tackled some of Snowdonia’s toughest hill walks, whilst carrying full kit for the weekend.
The Adventurous Training (AT) activities were planned by the flight in June on the basis of providing a physically challenging walking route and instilling self-sufficiency through wild camping; with all clothing, cooking equipment, rations, sleeping and shelter systems being carried by individuals throughout the weekend.
The limits of minibus travel and Friday evening logistics ensured arrival and pitching of tents after midnight on the first day. After the group located some of the slightly less rocky and vertical parts of the hillside next to Llyn Ogwen and got to sleep, the tents and bivvies were thoroughly tested by the overnight weather.



On Saturday, the team set off to the Devil’s Kitchen via Llyn Idwal, climbing to 700m and passing between the peaks of Y Garn and Glyder Fawr before descending to the Llanberis Pass. Following a transit to Pen-y-Pass after encountering adverse weather, camp was set up next to Llyn Cwm-y-ffynnon. On Sunday, Glyder Fawr itself was tackled, involving an ascent to 1000m and difficult progress over a very rocky summit. A careful descent was made into the Ogwen valley to link up with transport back to RAF Benson.



Each member of the group found their own challenges: for some it was their first time hill walking or wild camping. For some the physical challenge of 10,000ft of height change and 10 miles whilst carrying everything for the weekend was particularly strong. For others the challenge was to motivate and help others, to get the whole team safely across the route. And for one or two it was just staying positive in the rain and fog on the first day!



However, the group were eventually rewarded with bright sunshine on Sunday and spectacular views across the mountains and valleys of Snowdonia. As with most good things, if it’s too easy it isn’t worth doing and that particularly goes for AT.



SAC Gary Belben, 606 Squadron (Operations Flight)

So what do 606 do when they are overseas?

606 (Chiltern) Sqn staff are employed in many roles when serving overseas, this is just a little insight into the life of a Passenger Handler with the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) 'we work from when the Aircrew start til they finish. First thing on the way to work, we collect the latest flying program for the day and the codewords for talking to the aircraft. On arrival at the office, we carry out a FOD (Foreign Object Damage) plod of the area. On the Control desk, we have flying program for each aircraft for that day. We write a passenger manifest out for each one listing departure time, aircraft type and destination. Every passenger that arrives, their names get added to a particular manifest. This is what is used if something happens to the aircraft, so it's very important that it's clear and correct. There is constant contact with the Ops room as the program can and does change frequently. We can also add extra people to an aircraft is there is space available, making full use of any assets we have. As a Pax Handler outside, we then put those booked in into holding tents until their aircraft is ready. They get a H+S brief on what to do and not to do when they board and make sure their weapons are not made ready. After checking with the Loadmaster, the pax are brought forward and marshalled onto the aircraft, along with any freight. Once the Loadmaster is happy, we back away from the aircraft and it taxi's away. After a FOD plod of the area, we start all over again.'