RAF meets diversity recruitment targets

The Royal Air Force has recruited more women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals in the past 12 months, reaching its Government-set targets.

The target was an intake of 10% BAME and 15% women and it is the first time the RAF has reached this level of diversity in its recruitment.

The RAF also said the recruitment figures included a 4% increase in BAME individuals and a 3% increase in women.

A statement said these achievements set "the baseline" for the Air Force to "grow its level of recruitment representation over the next few years".

The RAF's aim is for its intake to be made up of 20% BAME and 40% women by 2030.

The National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2015 set a target of at least 15% women across the Armed Forces.

As of 1 October 2020, a total of 16,110 women were serving across all three services of the Armed Forces, accounting for 11% of the total trained and untrained UK strength. 

Cover image: Crown Copyright.