Keighley and Ilkley MP and Armed Forces champion Robbie Moore has started his own military journey through the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS). His first weekend training with the Royal Air Force began with inductions at RAF Marham in King’s Lynn.
The AFPS was established in 1989 and allows MPs to experience life in one of the three armed services. MPs take part in the same military training as service personnel, learn about military life, and get the opportunity to take part in operations.
The AFPS website describes the scheme as: ‘a unique window into the world of everyday life in the armed forces and the tasks they are asked to undertake on our behalf.
The objective of the scheme is to help parliamentarians understand the work of the armed forces and foster genuine personally informed contributions to participate in defence debates.’
MPs who take part can choose which branch is to the three services they wish to experience. Robbie is training with the Royal Air Force.
Robbie said:
“I’ve always been a supporter of our armed forces, particularly the people who sacrifice the chance of a normal civilian life to defend the freedoms we all enjoy. I’m therefore delighted at the opportunity to learn directly from fellow airmen and airwomen about he work they do to protect our nation’s interests at home and overseas.
“My first weekend at RAF Marham was very interesting and I look forward to continuing my journey, ensuring service personnel and veterans in my constituency get the representation of an MP who truly gets their needs.”
