6 Regiment Army Air Corps

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6 Regiment Army Air Corps
Active2006 – present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
TypeAviation
RoleHelicopter support
Size Regiment
575 personnel [1]
Part of Joint Helicopter Command
Base Bury St Edmunds
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryThe Regimental emblem is the Army Air Corps Cap Badge with the Roman numerals VI beneath.

6 Regiment Army Air Corps is the sole Army Reserve regiment of the British Army Air Corps (AAC) falling under the Combat Arm of the British Army. The regiment consists of five Squadrons based around the south of the UK. 6 Regiment provides soldiers trained to assist Joint Helicopter Command on exercise and operations both in the UK and worldwide. The regiment provides support to support and attack helicopter in roles including Aviation Ground crew specialists, Aviation Communication Operators and Aviation Support Officers. The AAC regiment is supported by other Army Reserve elements including Royal Logistic Corps as chefs, Logistics and Supply, Adjutant General Corps as human resource specialists and Royal Army Medical Corps in the form of Combat Medical Technicians.

Contents

History

6 Regiment was formed on 2 July 2006 at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. It is the only reserves regiment of the Army Air Corps. [2] The regiment was initially formed as an attack helicopter ground crew regiment, providing attack helicopter support to the regular Army Air Corps regiments at Wattisham. [3] The regiment has since begun training ground crew to work with the AugustaWestland AW159 Wildcat, allowing it to provide general support to the majority of the Army Air Corps.

In 2009 655 Squadron (V) The Scottish Horse joined the regiment.

The Army 2020 and Future Reserves 20 announcements in July 2013 made significant changes to the role and structure of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps. Those changes were expected to be largely in place by 1 April 2014, with extensive conversion training continuing until approximately 2017. [4]

Unit role

The role of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps is to provide ground support to Army aviation units operating the AgustaWestland Apache and the AW159 Wildcat. 6 Regiment Army Air Corps is also capable of providing wider support to all aviation units within the Joint Helicopter Command both on exercise and on operations. More specifically the roles of 6 Regt AAC and its personnel are:

The Army Reserve does not recruit pilots for flying roles.

6 Regiment Army Air Corps previously supplied troops to Operation Herrick, and to Operation Telic.

Structure and locations

From April 2014, 6 Regiment Army Air Corps consists of a Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) and five sub-units:

Regimental Headquarters (RHQ)

Headquarters Squadron, 6 Regiment Army Air Corps.

No. 675 (The Rifles) Squadron AAC

No. 677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron AAC

No. 678 (The Rifles) Squadron AAC

No. 679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron AAC

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "Army Air Corps".
  3. "Army Air Corps".
  4. 6 Regt AAC Regimental Guide Dated 3 July 2013.