Commandant General RAuxAF reviews Cranwell Graduation
In a landmark moment for the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, on 31st October 2024, Air Vice Marshal Ranald Munro became the first Part Time Volunteer Reserve 2* officer to have the honour of Reviewing a full RAF Officers’ Graduation Parade at RAF Cranwell.
The parade saw the formal graduation of 26 Officer Cadets from the Modular Initial Officer Training Course No30 and 12 Officer Cadets from the Reserve Officer Initial Training Course No72. AVM Munro said: “This was a tremendous honour for me and for the RAuxAF to be invited to undertake this duty in the centenary year of the RAuxAF. My congratulations to all of the new officers who worked so hard to complete their training and present a very polished parade.”
Among the 12 RAuxAF graduate officers was Fg Off Mark Susca who has been a Reservist for some time serving as a Cpl in 3 (Reserves) Police Sqn at RAF Honington. Now commissioned, he will remain with his Squadron but undertake an additional role for the RAF which plays squarely to his skills set. In his civilian life Mark is a commercial airline pilot and will now be “loaned” for part of his time to assist 8 Sqn at RAF Waddington with the development programme for the new Wedgetail aircraft where he will work with fellow Part Time Volunteer Reserve pilot Gp Capt Ryan Mannering. Mark said: “It will be a great opportunity to use my civilian skills to support the RAF whilst being able to continue with my training and development as an officer with my own unit.”
OC 8 Sqn, Wg Cdr Sarah McDonnell said: “We are really looking forward to Mark being part of the team, it is a great use of his skills and a perfect way for the RAF to gain extra specialist support for its front line tasks”.
To round-off a great day for Fg Off Mark Susca, during the graduation ceremony he was awarded the McRobert Sword of Merit given each year to the individual judged to have been the Reserve Officers’ Initial Training Course best all round cadet.
