Assistant Chief of Staff 2 Gp Reserves

A vacancy has arisen for an Air Commodore (Any Profession) to serve as Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS), 2 Gp Reserves, a role that is dual hatted as Deputy Commandant General of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (Dep CG RAuxAF), at RAF High Wycombe on Part Time Volunteer Reserve (PTVR) (90 days) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 14 December 2026. Subject to requirement and funding, the post may, at a future date, need to be uplifted to ADC TCoS.

Reporting to the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) 2 Group, the ACOS 2 Group Reserves role combines strategic leadership, force generation, reserve integration, and governance across the Group's Reserve component. The role also includes acting as Deputy Commandant, through CG RAuxAF.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as the senior staff officer responsible for Reserve matters within 2 Group.
• Advising the AOC 2 Group, Director Reserves / CG RAuxAF and senior leadership on Reserve capability, sustainability, capacity, and readiness considerations. This will focus particularly on the role of the Reserve Force in the transition to conflict.
• Ensuring RAF Reserve personnel in 2 Gp (or more widely) are effectively incorporated into an Integrated Force structure.
• Representing Reserve interests within Group Headquarters and across Air Command.

• Identifying capability gaps and develop plans to improve Reserve contribution to operational outputs, both within 2 Gp and, in consultation with CG RAuxAF, more widely.
• Ensuring 2 Gp Reserve units can provide trained personnel in support of contingency and operational requirements.

• Leading Reserve-related aspects of 2 Gp planning iso Transition to Conflict and future force development.
• As a member of the Reserves Steering Group and the Air and Space Reserves Directorate, contribute to the development of Reserve workforce strategies, mobilisation planning, and resilience initiatives.
• Aligning 2 Gp Reserve activity with the Air and Space Domains’ and Defence’s priorities.
• Providing assurance to senior commanders on Reserve effectiveness and value, both ACOS Reserves and more broadly as Dep CG RAuxAF.

• Maintaining effective relationships with:
• Regular and Reserve commanders across 2 Group.
• Air Command Reserve staff.
• All 2 Group-associated Reserve elements.
• Civilian Employer representatives, Reserve Forces and Cadets organisations, and wider Defence stakeholders.

• Championing initiatives that improve Reserve experience and effectiveness.
• Support the Commandant General Royal Auxiliary Air Force to support and develop the health and sustainability of the RAuxAF.

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the following:

Must either have been, or currently be, an Air Commodore Any Profession or a Group Captain Any Profession eligible for promotion in accordance with AP 3393 Vol 1 and AP 7000. All Promotions will be ratified by means of a Promotion Board.

• Previous experience in a senior operational or higher headquarters role.
• Must be available to routinely work at weekends and travel to HQ Air for routine week-day briefings and meetings and to other MoD units as required.

• A broad knowledge of the RAF, the RAF Reserve Forces, their organisation and roles.
• Completion of ACSC / ACSC(R).
• Previous command experience in the Reserves, preferably of PTVR personnel.
• Completed a period of mobilised or operational service

Selection Process.  This is a RAF tied position and, IAW AP3392 Vol 7 Pt1 Chap 10, candidates will be assessed by the Air Rank Appointments Board (ARAB) in line with the Regular process. The ARAB may elect to interview before making a final selection.

Specific enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to:

Name: Air Cdre G Hellard – ACOS 2 Gp Reserves

MS Teams: 0300 1588573

Applications.  Candidate applications, with a Why Me Statement (max 350 word), Statement of Service, last 4 OJARs and any Higher Defence Training reports should be sent, via email, to:

Air Cdre L Bennett – Air Sec 1

Email: Lawrence.bennett590@mod.gov.uk (Air-People-SnrAppts-AirSec1)

MS Teams: 03033 802881

or

          Air-People-SnrAppts@mod.gov.uk (For those without access to MoDNet)

The closing date for applications is 14 August 2026.

Unless already commissioned in the Reserve Air Forces the successful applicant will be required to be commissioned in the Royal Air Force Reserves with a liability for call-out for permanent service.

The appointment is on Part Time Volunteer Reserve TCoS in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 7 Part 1 and AP3392 Vol 7 Part 2 for an initial period of 4 years.

Confirmation of appointment will depend on successful completion of a RAF Medical Board.  Personnel who do not meet the Permanent Joint Medical Employment Standard (PJMES) for PTVR TCOS may apply for the appointment but will only be considered subject to an executive waiver process on a case-by-case basis. 

At the date of attestation, applicants for PTVR positions should normally be attested before their 55th birthday.  Consideration may be given to the recruitment of a PTVR candidate who is over the age of 55 at the time of their application (where they are currently serving or have recently left service and are considered to be SQEP). However, a waiver must be sought from SO1 RPMC prior to interview.

Regular Service Applicants.  Personnel currently serving in the Regular Royal Air Force should be mindful of the current Early Termination Minimum Waiting Time (MWT) for their respective Rank, Profession and ensure this MWT is compatible with the post sponsor’s proposed start date, prior to applying.

Admin Discharge.  Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the KR1027 process will have their applications rejected as they are not eligible to join the RAF Reserves in accordance with AP 3391.

Pension Issues.  Personnel who qualify for a service pension should take financial advice from Defence Business Services (DBS) Pensions Department on the effect that undertaking reserve service has on their pension (details can be found on the JPA splash screen). Additional guidance can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans and MMP116 - Re-employment. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment’ on Commutation and, for those leaving on a ‘preserved’ pension, the Resettlement Grant.

Transition between TCoS.  Personnel taking this appointment from other TCoS should consider the impact on any accrued entitlements, such as leave, resettlement etc and should seek specialist guidance where required as certain entitlements are TCoS specific and may not be retained or transferred on transition between TCoS. 

Flexible Working Arrangements.  In accordance with the Flexible Working (FW) Policy, Reserve personnel can request FW arrangements with their line manager.  Any immediate FW requirements should be agreed with the line management at the interview stage.

Individual Reinforcement Training (IRT) (Module 1) and RAF Fitness Test (RAFFT).  Reserve personnel are required to maintain currency in IRT and the RAFFT iaw the relevant TCoS.  The successful applicant will be expected to undertake IRT and the RAFFT within 6 months of commencing employment (if required).

Annual Salary and Leave.  Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the reserve air forces.  Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760.

Accommodation. Personnel serving on PTVR TCoS are not entitled to service accommodation but can utilise service accommodation when on duty subject to availability.