The Royal Air Force (RAF) has formed two new units to provide specialist force protection capabilities at Bastion and Kandahar Air Fields in Afghanistan.
The two units are 58 Squadron RAF Regiment, based at RAF Leuchars in Fife, and No 8 RAF Force Protection (FP) Wing Headquarters, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
The RAF FP Wing HQs and RAF Regiment field squadrons will patrol areas around air stations to ensure that air assets and personnel can operate freely.
It will allow other personnel more time to rest, recuperate and train for the next deployment.
8 RAF FP Wing HQ will grow over the coming months and will ultimately consist of 15 personnel commanded by a wing commander.
Commanded by a Squadron Leader, the 58 Squadron RAF Regiment will ultimately comprise 173 personnel.
8 FP Wing HQ and 58 Squadron RAF Regiment are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in April 2011.
