Future of Air Formation & Air Support Signals

Two articles in the December edition of The Wire describe how, slowly and surely, the world of Air Formation and Air Support Signals is shrinking.

In two years time most of the Air Formation Signallers who provide and maintain communications on the airfield at RAF Akrotiri will be civilian contractors. We saw the amalgamation of 259 Signal squadron and 12 Signal Unit, RAF into the Cyprus Communication Unit (CCU) in 2002.

The article in The Wire reads"... a number of outsourcing activities are now occurring which will see a significant reduction in Royal Signals and RAF communicators in Cyprus over the next 24 months as industry delivery partners assume service provision.' I could continue with the lip curling gobbledegook but the gist is that the CCU has already reduced in strength from 250 to 190 and, for a while that will settle at 180, 81 Army, 81 RAF and 18 civilian. As soldiers leave at the end of their two-year tours, most of them will be replaced by employees of Bailey Teswaine, a sub-contractor to BT. How very, very, sad.

The article concludes 'Sadly the names of Episkopi, Dhekelia and Akrotiri will be consigned to Tele Mech history alongside Laarbruch, Gutersloh and Wildenrath,'

There are changes in 21st Signal Regiment as well. Five Signal Regiments have been designated 'Campaign Signal Regiments', units responsible for providing general communications in operational theatres. 21 Regiment is one of these and so 220 Squadron is due to move to Helmand Province in 2011 to provide general communications for the army and RAF. 244 Squadron will retain its Air support role supporting the Joint Helicopter Force and will be reinforced by the transfer of India and hotel Troops from 220 Squadron. As the author concludes ‘Many decisions have yet to be made and with the ever rapidly changing environment of Afghanistan, no plan may survive contact!’ Thank heaven he can write in plain English!