| Southampton University Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
SUAS Diamond |
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| Founded | 15 February 1941 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Officer Training, Ab Initio Flying Training, Recruiting |
| Part of | 1 EFTS |
| Garrison/HQ | MOD Boscombe Down |
| Nickname | SUAS |
| Motto | Latin: Fortibus Ardua Cedunt "Adversity Yields to the Bold" |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Trainer | Tutor |
Southampton University Air Squadron (SUAS, /suːˈæs/) is a training unit of the Royal Air Force which provides basic flying training, adventurous training and personal development skills to undergraduate students of the University of Southampton[1], University of Portsmouth, Bournemouth University and Southampton Solent University. The idea behind all University Air Squadrons is to allow potential RAF officers to experience life in service and to allow them to decide whether they are suited to it. There is no obligation to join up, unless a bursary is successfully applied for. SUAS is parented by MoD Boscombe Down[2] where it flies Tutor aircraft. SUAS Town Headquarters (THQ) is in Southampton City Centre.
Training nights are held on Thursday evenings at SUAS THQ, and are compulsory for Officer Cadets. Christmas (Freshers' Camp), Easter and Summer Training periods, each of a week long are held at Boscombe Down to further the development of members through flying, adventurous training and force development.
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SUAS parents 2 Air Experience Flight with which it shares aircraft to allow local cadet units the chance to experience flying.[3]
Students follow a modified form of the Elementary Flying Syllabus covering the basics of flight up to solo navigation exercises. Students that complete this initial syllabus can then progress to the Advanced Flying Syllabus and learn formation flying, aerobatics, and low level navigation skills. Each student is officially allocated 10 hours of flying training each year, though occasionally some flyers exceed this amount. Some individuals apply for a PPL from their flying experience on the UAS.
The flying aspect of the SUAS is overseen by the Commanding Officer (OC SUAS) and the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI), both of which are RAF Qualified Flying Instructors (QFI). Additional Instructors are sometimes available on flying Training Periods.
All flying is based at MoD Boscombe Down where the Grob Tutor is used as the instructional aircraft. Previous types operated were the De Havilland Chipmunk and Scottish Aviation Bulldog.
SUAS participates in many forms of adventurous training, including climbing, canoeing, kayaking, mountaineering, sailing, ski touring and mountain biking. The squadron's Ground Training Instructor (GTI) facilitates many of the above activities, but most activities and exercises are organised by students - either individually, or in small groups.
SUAS relies heavily on student instructors for adventurous training (AT). Qualifications can be gained by attending a Joint Services Adventure Training (JSAT) course[4], which is usually free. Students attending will be taught the necessary techniques for successful and safe instruction in their chosen discipline, and can then lead others on AT.
In 2009, the Southampton Military Education Committee introduced a competition between the four service units based in the city. Organised by the students in the units, Thunderer Squadron (DTUS[5]) contributed a weekend of AT in the Snowdonia National Park. Each unit had the opportunity to enter one or more teams to show off their planning, navigation and expedition skills with an air of friendly rivalry. In 2009 Thunderer Squadron and SUAS shared joint first place in this event. In 2010, SUAS' two teams took the first two positions. The events were an opportunity for people from the different units to integrate in a very different environment to the comparative comfort of Southampton.
SUAS members are fortunate to be in a position to organise and participate in overseas expeditions. In previous years small deployments to Canada, for open canoeing and dog sledding, and skiing in the European Alps have been popular and worthwhile ventures. A week in Germany in the summer of 2010 included rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and paddle sport.
With an enhanced emphasis on expeditions, the RAF no longer supports exclusive downhill skiing and instead focuses on the significantly more arduous ski touring. In January 2011, SUAS and Oxford UAS went on a joint expedition to Sainte Foy for this purpose.
In addition to larger expeditions, weekends in the Snowdonia National Park and Brecons Beacons of Wales to improve climbing and mountaineering skills are a regular occurrence. Organised and led by students, with little staff involvement, these weekends are excellent for fine tuning leadership skills and practicing being adaptable and flexible.
SUAS members have the opportunity to go yacht sailing on a regular basis - students can organise expeditions at any time of the year through the Joint Services Adventurous Training Centre. Student instructors are only too happy to take personnel sailing and teach them how to effectively crew a 30+ foot yacht. Apart from teaching the skills required to sail a yacht from A to B, students get used to living in close quarters with one another with few luxuries, and are often be tested by the weather. A high degree of autonomy is enjoyed - improving leadership, communication and awareness skills being the primary objectives. In Summer 2010, a two week expedition led by a student along the south coast of the UK reached Dartmouth in fairly challenging weather.
Students can join SUAS in any year at university and usually stay for two years, provided their attitude and commitment are good. Students from the Universities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth and other higher education establishments around Southampton may apply to join, but due to time and personnel constraints, SUAS only attends these universities' Fresher's Fairs. Students who are deemed an asset may be invited to continue their careers with SUAS and stay for a further year, subject to them remaining in university and remaining committed to the squadron. To join, simply attend a Fresher's Fair at your university and talk to one of the students. After completing the joining process a successful student would be attested and become a member of the Volunteer Reserve.
Once attested, students have to pass a medical and a fitness test. It's a good idea for anyone to work on their fitness whatever they do, but especially so if they wish to join SUAS. Males should aim for at least a 9.10 on the bleep test, 20 press ups and 35 sit ups. While these are the minimum standards for joining, individuals who are fitter tend to benefit more from UAS membership.
Anyone that wishes to apply for a bursary should first go to the RAF website[6]. Bursaries are available for most branches and can be applied for before joining (conferring automatic UAS membership) or after joining a UAS. The current system gives a successful candidate £6,000 over the course of their degree. The application process consists of an informal chat with UAS staff or an interview at a career office, for UAS members and non-members respectively. If successful an invitation for selection at the OASC may follow. Successful applicants will be expected to be an example on their squadron and must join the RAF on completion of their degrees, or return all bursary monies.
While SUAS is generally operated informally, a command structure does exist. The Commanding Officer (OC SUAS) has overall responsibility, supported by the Adjutant who oversees administrative tasks and is supported by office staff at the squadron's town headquarters. The student body has a Senior Student, usually an Acting Pilot Officer (APO) who is essentially heads up the student body, and aside from the extra commitment organising activities, he or she acts as a liaison to the permanent staff. The Senior Student is supported by a Flight Commander (Air) and Flight Commander (Ground), again APOs, who oversee the students participation at the airfield and on other aspects respectively.
They are assisted by an executive committee which is chosen from the student body each year. Positions include Adventurous Training Executive, Tri-Service Executive, Sports Executive, Computing and Information Systems Executive, Charity and PR (Public Relations) Executive, Force Development Executive and Entertainments Executive. There is a Mess Secretary who records the minutes of Executive Committee meetings and oversees the Mess Committee (below). A Mess Committee is also elected each year, positions include Shop, House and Libraries and Digital Media. The above roles serve the function of allowing SUAS to efficiently organise and de-conflict events and activities in a coherent manner.
The core difference between SUAS and other military units in Southampton is the voluntary aspect. Students who volunteer to go on training and get involved stay on - those that don't tend to be asked if this is what they really want, and may be asked to leave. The morale of this story is that well motivated students tend to enjoy SUAS more, and do well as a result.
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