Chief Executive’s Welcome
A very Happy New Year to you all from Lowland House! I hope you have had time to rest, relax, recharge, reflect, revitalise and recommit to the great work that we do for Defence, for our Lowland Reservists, for our Lowland Cadets and for our Lowland business networks. Does anyone else remember Francis Fukuyama’s ‘The End of History and the Last Man’ (1992)? It was all the rage when I went through Staff College (1994-95) in Canada. The author argued that the spread of liberal democracies and Western free-market capitalism, as well as the Western lifestyle, may represent the final step in humanity’s socio-cultural and political struggle. Well, it hasn’t turned out that way, has it?!
CRFCA’s latest External Scrutiny Team’s Report (the link to which is included in this LQ edition, just before the Dates for the Diary section) on the health of our Reserve Forces, laid before Parliament just before Christmas, makes for grim reading. Perhaps I was too optimistic in thinking that the Strategic Defence Review of June 2025 was going to rapidly reinvigorate our national defence. Nevertheless, there’s hardly a day now that goes by without some ‘more must be done’ headline. There is no bottomless pit of funding, of course, and we all appreciate that the Government has some very tough decisions to make.
Thankfully, we in Lowland RFCA accept what we cannot change, have the courage to change what can be changed and, we pray, have the wisdom to know the difference. We are delighted to be making progress on so many fronts, despite the parlous state of the nation’s finances. We know that the more we do to promote Defence, to support and to enable our Reservists and our Cadets, the stronger we make our national defence and, for the Cadets, the more resilient we make them as citizens of this country – witness Cadet Jordan Kerr of Drumchapel springing into action on 10 January, saving a young boy’s life with the CPR drills he had learnt in the Cadets.
This is clearly essential work. Let’s put our shoulders to the wheel. With our collective determination, diligence and dexterity, we are making a very real difference for UK Defence. Thank you!
Unit Grants: Round One for 2026-27
At their meeting on 21 January, the Board of Lowland RFCA considered 36 bids from 17 units for Unit Grants for equipment and/or activities in the period 1 April to 31 August 2026. 31 bids were approved although, of these, 5 pertaining to recruiting were provisional, pending the recommendations of Lowland’s newly established Recruiting Advisory Committee (RAC). This committee will seek to understand the role of RFCAs in recruiting, noting that this has been the responsibility of Capita since 2012 and that Serco take on a new 7 year contract in early 2027 under the banner of the Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS). The RAC will seek to determine RFCA best practice, especially focussing on Paid Social Media, but also recognising that the Reserves’ infrastructure plays a key role in attracting (and retaining) Reservists. The Chief Executive will be writing to COs and Commandants this week to inform them of the Board’s decisions.
Lowland RFCA’S Annual Updates for Reserve and Cadet Executive Staff: March 2026
All Reserve and Cadet units in the Lowlands will be invited to send their XOs/Adjts/QMs to Lowland House on Tuesday 10 March (1030-1330) and their COs/Commandants/Area Officer on Wednesday 25 March (1800-2030) for Lowland’s Annual update. Topics will include the Volunteer Estate, Engagement activity (including Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards), Comms Support and Unit Grants. Admin instructions to follow.
Lord-Lieutenants’ Awards 2026 Nominations Now Open
Glamorous Golds at Edinburgh Castle
Seventeen Lowland-based organisations were awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award by the Ministry of Defence in October 2025, acknowledging and thanking them for their support of the Armed Forces Community.
Presented by His Grace the Duke of Hamilton, who is also the Honorary Air Commodore for 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, each of the Lowland-based recipients received their Gold ERS Awards in the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle on Thursday 30 October.
Addressing the award winners and other distinguished guests, the Duke commented: ‘By supporting veterans, Reservists, military families, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Cadet youth, your businesses and organisations are building resilient communities, leading by example and helping to shift attitudes and raise standards across your sectors.
‘Given the various social and economic challenges facing the United Kingdom today, your decision to commit in the way that you have to the Employer Recognition Scheme is all the more impressive. In return, you benefit from the values, standards, training and resilience that military service brings, for the betterment of your organisations, of your industries, and of the UK society as a whole.’
The CARAs 2025
Ten Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from across the Lowlands of Scotland have received a special recognition from the young people within their units, acknowledging and thanking them for everything they do to provide the best Cadet experience possible.
Since 2020, Lowland RFCA has facilitated the Cadet Adult Recognition Awards (CARAs) has with a view to acknowledging the tireless dedication of the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) who give their time and talents to support 12-18 year olds in their community.
Lowland RFCA hosted the online award ceremony on its YouTube channel on Friday 5 December. The main presentation was hosted at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea by National Army Cadet Ambassador, Army veteran and mental health activist Sally Orange MBE.
‘Cadet Force Adult Volunteers dedicate their precious time and energy week in and week out for the development of Cadets nationwide,’ Sally remarked, not just about the CARAs winners but also about CFAVs working tirelessly throughout the UK. ‘Without them, the Air, Army and Sea Cadets simply could not continue to provide the excellent standards of support to young people that they are known for.’
251 Transport Squadron Hosts Engagement Event
On Wednesday 5 November Reservists and staff at 251 (Ayrshire) Transport Squadron opened the doors of their Reserve Centre in Irvine to several local and international visitors for the evening.
The key objective of this visitors’ event was to showcase the various training, travel and career opportunities undertaken by local Army Reservists, as well as their various Community Engagement endeavours, with particular emphasis on the run-up to Remembrance Day.
Forces-Friendly Employers Visit RAF Lossiemouth
From Tuesday 25 – Wednesday 26 November RAF Lossiemouth welcomed several employers throughout the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland for a one-of-a-kind networking event.
This special Employer Engagement event aimed to bring Regular and Reservist personnel together with representatives from a broad range of organisations and industries, including universities, local councils, and healthcare and aerospace, giving them a chance to see first-hand what goes on behind the scenes at a Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) base.
Over the course of the two-day visit, the employers enjoyed a series of briefings and informal conversations with Reservists working at and outside of RAF Lossiemouth, and visited a range of facilities including No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron, home of the Typhoon jet, the Astra Hub, responsible for a range of innovative projects to improve life and operations on the base, and the Atlantic Building which houses the P-8A Poseidon fleet.
602 Squadron Welcome Employers to Engagement and Prize Giving Day
On Saturday 6 December the Reservists at 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force decided to make an even more special occasion of their Annual Prize Giving celebration by inviting representatives from local Forces-friendly organisations along for an Employer Engagement afternoon.
The event welcomed employers from across various sectors, including aerospace, acadaemia and finance, providing an ideal opportunity for networking between the invited guests and hosting Reservists.
Following the presentations, squadron personnel then escorted the visitors on a tour of the unit’s Ops and Heritage Rooms, which held a number of historical items including a wing fragment of the ‘Humbie Heinkel’, the first German aircraft to be shot down on British soil during the Second World War.
In Memoriam: Mrs Grace Hood
Towards the end of last year, we were notified of the passing of Mrs Grace Hood, a valued member of the Lowland team for over four decades.
The Association was so pleased that her service was duly recognised, having been presented to HRH The Princess Royal at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in July 2022 and having been awarded a Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate of Meritorious Service at Glasgow City Chambers in 2023.
Grace will be remembered by the Lowland Team as a kind, dedicated and good-humoured friend and colleague, and will be greatly missed by all who have had the pleasure of working with her over the years.
Local Army Cadet Hailed as Hero
A local Army Cadet has been widely praised after his quick thinking and action saved a child’s life at a train station in Glasgow.
Fifteen-year-old Jordan Kerr, a Cadet with Glasgow & Lanarkshire Battalion, was on his way home from Cadet training when he heard a cry for help at Drumchapel train station last Saturday.
Jordan, who had only learned First Aid through the Army Cadets a year ago, raced to the patient’s side and spent over ten minutes performing CPR until an ambulance arrived.
Paramedics took the child to hospital where he was understood to be in a stable condition, thanks to Jordan’s decisive actions.
Following the medical emergency, the patient’s mother took to social media to trace the heroic teen so she could thank him. The post saw thousands of people commending Jordan’s inspirational actions, with many calling for him to receive a nomination for a Pride of Britain Award.
Association Membership
Over the last few months we have seen some significant changes to the Lowland Association Membership.
Army Engagement Group Briefings
From Tuesday 10 – Thursday 12 February the Army Engagement Group will be hosting ‘Meet Your Army) Receptions and Briefings across various locations, with a view to promoting greater awareness and understanding of both the Regular Army and Army Reserve among the general public.
The events will be aimed primarily at offering deeper insights on Army life and operations to employers and staff currently working in the education sector through a series of presentations and an open forum for guests to ask questions and network with military representatives.
Click on the following links to register for your preferred date and location:
Tuesday 10 February from 10am, Paisley Town Hall – Register
Wednesday 11 February from 10am, Beacon Arts Centre Greenock – Register
Thursday 12 February from 10am, Western House Hotel Ayr – Register
End of an Era at West Scotland Wing
After nearly two decades of exceptional service, we at Lowland RFCA would like to say a fond farewell to Wing Commander Jim Haley as he steps down from his position as Officer Commanding of West Scotland Wing Royal Air Force Air Cade
ts.
Over the last sixteen years, Jim’s leadership has seen the Wing grow, thrive, and navigate countless challenges, not least of which include the COVID-19 pandemic. His commitment to the development of Cadets and CFAVs alike has been unwavering throughout his tenure, and has no doubt left a lasting mark on West Scotland Wing.
We wish Jim all the very best in the next chapter of his journey, we thank him whole-heartedly for his many contributions both as West Scotland Wing’s Officer Commanding and as a member of our Association, and we offer our congratulations and welcome to his successor, Wing Commander Crawley.
External Scrutiny Team Report 2025
The latest External Scrutiny Team Annual Report is now available to read by clicking on the link in the headline. You can also view reports from the last four years through the External Scrutiny Team page under the Reserve Forces tab on the Lowland RFCA website.
Dates for your Diary
Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards for the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian
Thursday 12 March, Edinburgh City Chambers, 6:30pm arrival for 7pm start.
Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards for the City of Glasgow
Wednesday 18 March, Glasgow City Chambers, 6:30pm arrival for 7pm start.
Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards for Ayrshire, Arran, Dumfries & Galloway
Thursday 2 April, A’ the Airts Community Art Centre, 6:30pm arrival for 7pm start.
Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards for Renfrewshire
Thursday 9 April, Paisley Abbey, 6:30pm arrival for 7pm start.
Our Highlight Reels…
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