Air Member for Personnel

Air Member for Personnel
Public domain · source
Body	the Royal Air Force
Department	Air Force Board
Reports to	Chief of the Air Staff
Seat	Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London
Appointer	Prime Minister
Formation	1918

Air Member for Personnel. The Air Member for Personnel is a senior officer on the Air Force Board of the Royal Air Force, responsible for all personnel and training matters. The position reports directly to the Chief of the Air Staff and is a key advisor on the welfare, career management, and development of RAF personnel. The role encompasses oversight of the RAF Personnel and Training Command and its successor organisations, ensuring the service maintains a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

Role and responsibilities

The Air Member for Personnel holds ultimate responsibility for the entire spectrum of Royal Air Force human resources policy and its practical implementation. This includes setting strategy for recruitment through the RAF Recruitment branch, managing career progression and postings for all ranks from officers to airmen, and overseeing professional training conducted at establishments like the RAF College Cranwell and the RAF Halton. The role also directs policies concerning pay, allowances, pensions under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, diversity and inclusion, welfare services, and family support across stations such as RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lossiemouth. Furthermore, the position has a central function in shaping the service's future manpower requirements in coordination with the Ministry of Defence and the Permanent Joint Headquarters.

History and development

The origins of the post lie in the creation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, with an initial appointment to the Air Council focusing on personnel matters. The role evolved significantly during the Second World War under figures like Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Babington, managing the vast expansion of aircrew and ground personnel. Major reorganisations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including the formation of the tri-service Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and the establishment of RAF Personnel and Training Command in 1994, consolidated the position's remit. Subsequent defence reviews, such as the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, led to further structural changes, including the command's merger into the Air Command structure, but the strategic personnel portfolio at the Air Force Board level remained intact.

Appointment and tenure

The Air Member for Personnel is appointed by the Prime Minister on the advice of the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Air Staff. The incumbent is typically a senior air officer holding the rank of air marshal or above, selected from officers with extensive command and staff experience across various RAF stations and headquarters. Tenure usually lasts for two to three years, aligning with standard senior officer postings. The selection process considers the officer's prior roles in commands such as No. 1 Group RAF or No. 2 Group RAF, as well as experience within the Ministry of Defence or Joint Forces Command.

Relationship to other senior RAF positions

The Air Member for Personnel is one of several senior officers who constitute the Air Force Board, sitting alongside the Chief of the Air Staff, the Vice-Chief of the Air Staff, and the Air Member for Materiel. The role works closely with the Commander Air Command, who has day-to-day executive responsibility for force generation, including personnel within operational units. Coordination is also essential with the Second Permanent Secretary for civilian personnel matters and with counterparts in the British Army and the Royal Navy, such as the Adjutant General and the Second Sea Lord, on tri-service policies under the auspices of the Defence Council.

Notable officeholders

Notable individuals who have served as Air Member for Personnel include Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans, who later became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff; Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire, who had previously commanded RAF Germany; and Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson, who later served as Chief of Staff at Allied Air Command. More recent officeholders include Air Marshal Sir Chris Elliot, a former Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies, and Air Marshal Sir Baz North, who had extensive experience in RAF fast-jet operations and commanded No. 1 Group RAF. The position has often been a stepping stone to the most senior roles within the Royal Air Force and the wider Ministry of Defence. Category:Royal Air Force personnel