RAFA YORK NEWS
FINDING IT TOUGH COURSE - 19 JUNE 2024.
A "finding it Tough" course will be run at the Branch Club from 1000 to 1400 hrs on Wednesday 19 June 2024.
Click on the link below to view the poster, which provides more information on the course.
LUNCH AT THE CLUB : SATURDAY 18 MAY 2024.
The next lunch at the Branch Club will be on Saturday 18 May, from 1230 to 1330 hrs in the Dining Room.
Chicken Kiev
Chips or new potatoes
Peas
or
Sausage
Chips or new potatoes
Peas
or
Vegetarian option
Apple pie and custard
or
Chocolate fudge cake and Cream
Main meal £4.00. Dessert £2.50
Order and payment at the Club Bar by Wednesday 15 May please. Full details on the Branch Club notice board.
CHANGE TO BRANCH CLUB WEEKDAY OPENING TIMES.
PLEASE NOTE THAT, FROM WED 1 MAY, THE NEW WEEKDAY OPENING TIMES WILL BE ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 1PM TO 3PM.
The Branch and Branch Club Committees have agreed to change the weekday opening times of the Branch Club from Thursday evenings to Wednesday afternoons. We have been unable to attract members to the Club in sufficient numbers on Thursday evenings to make opening the Club viable. Therefore, for the time being, we are changing the weekday Club opening times to Wednesday afternoons. We hope that this will attract more members to use the Club facilities as public transport is more frequent during the day (not so in the evenings!) and dark evenings also deter several of our members from attending.
NAVIGATING DEMENTIA COURSE TO RUN AT RAFA YORK BRANCH CLUB ON WED 29 MAY 2024
We know that navigating dementia can be challenging, but you’re not on your own.
We are offering face to face courses for members of the RAF community who would like to learn more about dementia and caring for a loved one in a friendly and supportive environment. Our accredited Navigating Dementia course will give you the information you need to care for your loved ones and yourself, equipping you with the knowledge and understanding to help you face dementia whatever the circumstances.
Our next Navigating Dementia course will be hosted by RAFA York Branch on 29 May 2024. There are 12 spaces available on this course.
Course timings - 09.30 - 15.30 (this is a free course).
Please note that places will be allocated by RAFA on a first come, first served basis.
Light refreshments will be available through-out the day, however we do ask you bring your own lunch.
If you would like to book a place, please email: Dementia@rafa.org.uk and include:
• Name,
• Email address or telephone number,
• Your connection with the RAF,
• If you require any additional support in attending or whilst on the course.
Please use the RAFA HQ email (Dementia@rafa.org.uk) to book a place on this course. Do NOT book through RAFA York Branch or Club Committee contacts.
INTRODUCTION OF THE WIDER SERVICE MEDAL
The changing nature of global operations leads to the potential that large numbers of Service personnel in support and enabling roles may in future not be eligible for the receipt of medals, while the increasing number of operations that do not meet the risk and rigour criteria for the award of either a campaign medal or the GSM with clasp would see personnel deployed for long periods on hazardous operations without the prospect of an award at the end. As a result, the Holmes Review, as part of its recommendations, suggested the creation of a new medal aimed at rewarding this kind of operational service that would not meet the general criteria for the award of a campaign medal. The concept for a new decoration was approved in principle by Queen Elizabeth II in December 2018. Final approval for the new decoration was granted by King Charles III in March 2024.
The obverse of the medal features the traditional effigy of the sovereign. The reverse depicts the crown within a ring containing the words "For Wider Service". From the ring emerge four arrows at the four cardinal points, symbolising "reach across the world", with the whole contained within a laurel wreath to symbolise service and achievement. The medal ribbon contains a central purple stripe, which is intended to signify the cross-government nature of operations, with symmetrical narrower stripes of white, sky blue, dark blue and green outside the central stripe - these signify air operations (sky blue), naval operations (dark blue) and land operations (green) respectively.
The qualification for the WSM is as follows:
Retrospective from 11 December 2018, personnel must have served up to 180 days aggregated (not necessarily continuous) service on an eligible operation. Additional service up to another 180 days will see individuals receive a bar to the medal, with a maximum of three bars capable of being awarded.
The initial set of operations eligible for the award of the Wider Service Medal were:
Operation AZOTIZE - the UK contribution to the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission
Operation BILOXI - the UK contribution to the NATO Southern Air Policing mission
Operation CABRIT - the forward deployment of UK land forces to Estonia and Poland as part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence
Operation KIPION - the ongoing UK presence in the Persian Gulf region
Operation ORBITAL - the UK operation to provide training and support to Armed Forces of Ukraine from 2015 to 2022
Operation RELENTLESS - the UK's Continuous At-Sea nuclear deterrent operation
Operation WOODWALL - the UK's forward deployment of two River-class patrol vessels to the Indo-Pacific region.