Recent parliamentary responses have revealed declining personnel numbers for RAF ground stewards and Army veterinary officers, while figures for military nurses remain classified due to security concerns.
According to the data, the number of RAF ground stewards dropped from 482 in 2010 to 291 in 2024. This steady decline highlights a significant reduction over the past 14 years. matching a reduction in overall personnel.
The figures for RAF ground stewards are as follows:
| Year | RAF Ground Stewards |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 482 |
| 2011 | 464 |
| 2012 | 435 |
| 2013 | 408 |
| 2014 | 395 |
| 2015 | 390 |
| 2016 | 392 |
| 2017 | 372 |
| 2018 | 349 |
| 2019 | 333 |
| 2020 | 330 |
| 2021 | 339 |
| 2022 | 331 |
| 2023 | 312 |
| 2024 | 291 |
In the Army, the number of veterinary officers remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 35 and 45 personnel over the same period. The latest figure shows 41 officers in 2024. The breakdown is as follows:
| Year | Veterinary Officers |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 35 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 41 |
| 2014 | 41 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 41 |
| 2021 | 45 |
| 2022 | 45 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 41 |
When asked about nurse personnel in the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF, the Ministry of Defence declined to release the figures, citing concerns about national security.
“I hope that my Rt Hon friend will understand that I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. Whilst a statistical release of overall Armed Forces strength is published annually, strength and capability statistics for certain specialisations are not released.
Releasing the current strength and requirement of medical service personnel could be exploited by our adversaries to target, disrupt and degrade an important element of Armed Forces capability.”
Who needs stewards? “Hofficers” trying to live in the past. Self service mess nights should be the norm. 2025, time to move on.
It depends what other roles they do or can action. Don’t let your socialist tendancys overcome practicality and etiquette, surely history and ceremony is worthy of continuation. I don’t think for example a few stewards will have any bearing whatsoever on th3 appeal.of the RAF , retention or numbers joining , they already have issues with that which need addressing.
Agreed.
I am no red. I just look at other services from overseas and see forces that reflect their societies. Why accuse someone of being socialist when all they are criticising is the Victorian attitudes reflected in HM Forces? Bit daft eh?
The work in aircraft carry military personnel. Not just in the the Officers/Sgts Mess.
Stewards are part of a stations professional catering flight. It’s not just about pulling pints for Officers. Stewards also fly in Voyagers as part of the crew.
I think you need to look at the bigger picture. I had the good fortune to serve alongside many nations and alongside many UK other arms. One such case was alongside the staff from RAF Ash.
It was an eye opening experience. For us luxury was a dry accommodation and hot water. For travel a four ton truck. Luxury was a series 3 land rover. So the RAF arrived with four coaches, 8 minibus, and a handful of Cavaliers. The reasoning was they were transporting Radar Operators to and from shifts. So the needed to arrive neither shaken or stirred. It all stems from that multi million airframe at the end of the runway. You don’t stuff the pilot in the back of a land rover to get him to his place of work. You have nice roomy crew buses. Likewise do you tell a pilot he has to make his own tea after a mission brief. No you have a steward. The same goes for accommodation, you give them the best possible. You want them fully rested. That trickles down through the whole of the RAF. They look after their people. The best of tools for the job.
No Amazon toolkits here. Those standards are the same even for vehicle mechanics. That is why RAF food, accommodation and things like MQs are of such a high standard.
So if three stewards help keep a squadrons worth of pilots happy, refreshed and able to perform to their peak, its a small price to pay. The figure to train a pilot in monetary terms is bewildering. If paying a steward 40K helps retain them, do the maths. It’s not about class, politics or any other agenda. Non of the major airlines to my knowledge ask flight deck crew to make their own tea, meals or beds.
In the R3? Fascinating.
It’s now a DC.
What is the deployable role for an RAF Steward?
That should be the key driver? Have some, sure, but other trades must be priority.
Out of interest, assume Chequers still has RAF Stewards from nearby RAF Halton?
So I see the value there, for supporting major diplomatic events hosted by HMG.
Bygone age mate. Even the new Potus exists on Big Macs lol!
Morning mate.
Yes, I can see both sides with this.
Older customs, sure, less need. But not dead, such as with the ceremony and style needed at places like Chequers, as I mentioned, which the military can provide.
I saw “hofficer Shenanigans” too often bud so I am a total cynic. Serving with American and other overseas arms opened my eyes a lot. Then l have always been an “ops” man with no time for what l count as BS. Glad to see you still posting as much, your comments make me think a lot. Best wishes.
Respect, mate.
I do believe stewards fly in Voyagers as part of the crew. Not so many work in the Officers mess these days. My sister was a steward in the RAF. She worked at RAF Wittering.
Robert, army messes have contracter staff and have had for many decades. Surely the RAF is the same?
Stewards’ = “Cabin Crew”
Registered nurse numbers are unavailable due to security concerns, that’s just so much bollox, registered nurse numbers are unavailable because the don’t want to admit how few there are.
Actually sometime there are immediate security issues and that’s fine, but actually the government is accountable to the electorate and must give details on how it’s performing.
Nurse numbers are security critical – that must mean that we do not have enough. Maybe they rely on reservists too much.
I do not trust politicians at all nowadays.
Forces medical services were completely destroyed.i was kicked off the nursing scheme in 92 under options for change and told to go to the NHS then apply to come back in.
Instead of the potential to aid the NHS buy providing services they are all closed down and troops have to be treated in the NHS or in private clinics.
We can no longer look after our own and the troops hate it
Completely?
QE Hospital Birmingham has a military wing.
DMRC Stanford Hall works to rehabilitate personnel.
There are DRRUs at military bases, and Joint Medical Units staffed by DMS tri service staff, Including QARANC, and others at several hospitals who treat both military and civilians.
RAF Tactical Medical Wing still exists.
The Army Medical Services still exist across multiple Regiments, yes many from the Reserves.
DMS Whittington is full of varied medical directorates.
The all military hospitals closed, yes.