The Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF), previously known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer (CASWO), is the senior Royal Air Force (RAF) appointment for a warrant officer (WO), and therefore the most senior non-commissioned appointment in the RAF.[1] The person holding this military appointment advises the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) on matters concerning airmen and airwomen of the RAF.[1][2] The post was created in May 1996 , as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer.[1][3] The post was re-titled Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF) on 1 July 2021 , and whilst continuing to report directly to the Chief of the Air Staff, the scope of the WORAF was widened to 'work for the entirety of the RAF'.[4] The current WORAF is WO Murugesvaran 'Subby' Subramaniam, who was appointed in April 2023 .[5][6] As of 2023[update], including the incumbent, there has been a total of eleven personnel in this appointment.
Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force | |
---|---|
since April 2023 | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Style | Warrant Officer |
Abbreviation | WORAF |
Reports to | Chief of the Air Staff |
Appointer | Air Force Board |
Term length | Not fixed, typically 2–3 years |
Formation | May 1996 |
First holder | WO Greg Dutton |
Website | Official website |
The Royal Navy equivalent is the Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy (WORN, previously Warrant Officer of the Naval Service, WONS),[7] and in the Royal Marines the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major. The British Army's recent equivalent is the Army Sergeant Major (previously known as Sergeant Major of the Army).[8]
List of holders
editNo. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Term of office | Chief of the Air Staff | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer (CASWO) | |||||||
1 | Greg Dutton MBE, BEM |
May 1996 | January 1998 | 1 year, 8 months | Sir Michael Graydon Sir Richard Johns |
||
2 | Jim Andrews MBE, BEM |
January 1998 | January 2000 | 2 years | Sir Richard Johns | ||
3 | René Michael Stuart MBE |
January 2000 | May 2003 | 3 years, 4 months | Sir Richard Johns Sir Peter Squire |
||
4 | Robert 'Bob' Loughlin MBE |
May 2003 | November 2006 | 3 years, 6 months | Sir Jock Stirrup Sir Glenn Torpy |
[9] | |
5 | Lyndsay Morgan MBE |
November 2006 | July 2009 | 2 years, 8 months | Sir Glenn Torpy | [2] | |
6 | Gary Wilcox MBE |
July 2009 | February 2012 | 2 years, 7 months | Sir Stephen Dalton | [2][3] | |
7 | Graeme Spark MBE |
February 2012 | October 2014 | 2 years, 8 months | Sir Stephen Dalton Sir Andrew Pulford |
[10] | |
8 | Clive Martland MBE (born 1968) |
October 2014 | October 2016 | 2 years | Sir Andrew Pulford Sir Stephen Hillier |
[1] | |
9 | Jon Crossley | October 2016 | October 2019 | 3 years | Sir Stephen Hillier Sir Michael Wigston |
[1] | |
10 | Jake Alpert MBE |
October 2019 | July 2021 | 1 year, 9 months | Sir Michael Wigston | [1][11] | |
Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force (WORAF) | |||||||
10 | Jake Alpert MBE |
July 2021 | April 2023 | 1 year, 9 months | Sir Michael Wigston | [1][4] | |
11 | Murugesvaran 'Subby' Subramaniam | April 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 8 months | Sir Michael Wigston Sir Richard Knighton |
[6][5] |
See also
edit- Template: RAF Other Ranks — table of all non-commissioned ranks and insignia of the Royal Air Force, including the WORAF
- Warrant Officer of the Air Force — equivalent in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force — equivalent in the United States Air Force (USAF)
- Sergeant Major of the Air Force — equivalent in the South African Air Force (SAAF)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 2018. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c Woods, Lesley, ed. (27 July 2009). "Welsh Warrant Officer steps down from top job". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ a b "RAF Halton hosts the Chief of the Air Staff's conference for Warrant Officers". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Halton. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
The conference has taken place annually for the last 12 years, since the post of Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer (CASWO) was created.
- ^ a b "Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force". RAF-FF.org.uk. Royal Air Force Families Federation. RAF.MoD.uk. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ a b 1st Lt. Charles Rivezzo (24 January 2023). Readout of STARCOM Senior Leaders' travel to the United Kingdom (JPG) (photograph-description). RAF High Wycombe: United States Air Force. 230125-F-OR751-0003. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
Warrant Officer Subby Subramaniam, command warrant officer of U.K. Space Command, ... pose for a photo during a visit to Headquarters, U.K. Space Command at RAF High Wycombe
- ^ "Warrant Officer in a class of his own". RoyalNavy.MoD.uk. Royal Navy. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Jones, Bruce (1 February 2015). "CGS outlines new British Army senior posts amid culling of generals". Janes.com. IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015.
- ^ "Bob's proud to protect the crown jewels". IpswichStar.co.uk. Ipswich Star, Archant Community Media Ltd. 4 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Gray, Mike, ed. (1 June 2013). "Airing issues with the boss" (PDF). Navy News. No. 707. HMS Nelson, Portsmouth: RoyalNavy.MoD.uk, Royal Navy. p. 37. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ @ChiefofAirStaff (4 October 2019). "Thank you WO Jon Crossley. A brilliant 3 years as Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer. Welcome WO Jake Alpert" (Tweet) – via Twitter.