# The Air Force Act 1955 (Part 1) Regulations 2007, Part 1 COMPETENT AIR FORCE AUTHORITIES TO AUTHORISE DISCHARGE Item No Column 1 Column 2 Competent Air Force Authority Reason for Discharge Airmen and Airwomen in Ground Trades Other Than Warrant Officer Non-Commissioned Aircrew Other Than Master Aircrew Warrant Officers Master Aircrew (a)S.I.2007/650. 1 On expiration of a non-pensionable engagement or at own request having given 18 months’ notice or on application for premature voluntary release before completing time for pension. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 2 With a view to Service pension, having completed time for pension. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 3 At own request with a view to Service pension or within 3 months of the end of engagement in order to take up civil employment. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 4 Dismissed. Court Martial Sentence Court Martial Sentence Court Martial Sentence Court Martial Sentence 5 For misconduct or following civil conviction. Commander-in-Chief Air Force Board Air Force Board Air Force Board 6 Free as an indulgence (a) in the case of voluntary withdrawal from training by: 1. officer cadets undergoing initial officer training Commandant RAF College and Director of Recruitment (RAF) 2. trainee non-commissioned aircrew prior to the award of a flying badge. Commanding Officer (b) in the case of an airwoman because of pregnancy. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary (c) in the case of airmen who cannot be discharged under any other heading. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary Air Force Board Air Force Board (d) in the case of a directly entered List 1 medical trainee or a directly entered technician who is withdrawn from training or who fails on passing out and is unwilling to be remustered to, or trained for, another trade. (i) The Commander-in-Chief Personnel and Training Command (ii) The Air Secretary (e) in the case of an airman who is withdrawn from, or fails, trade training and cannot be offered training in another trade because he is unsuitable for trades in which there are vacancies or there are no vacancies in trades for which he is suitable. The Air Secretary (f) in the case of an airman who elects to be discharged in lieu of compulsory transfer/ remustering from a sensitive trade or who applies for discharge after failing to qualify for remustering at his rank level. The Air Secretary Air Force Board (g) in the case of a person who is medically unfit for his/her present trade and has declined an offer of employment in a suitable alternative trade. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary (h) in the case of a person who, through circumstances beyond his/her control is medically unfit for the full range of duties in his/her trade or category and the individual considers that the resultant effect on his/her career prospects is unacceptable. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary (i) in the case of a person who is withdrawn from recruit training. Commanding Officer 7 Compassionate grounds. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 8 For irregular enlistment. Free on claiming discharge under section 18 of the 1955 Act before completing 3 months’ service. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 9 On appointment to a commission. Commanding Officer Commanding Officer Commanding Officer Commanding Officer 10 Invalided (a) below current air force medical standards. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary (b) physically unfit for air force service as aircrew. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 11 Not likely to maintain the required air force medical standard (a) in the case of a person whose disabilities are discovered on medical examination within 21 days of attestation. Commanding Officer Commanding Officer (b) in the case of any person discharged within 6 months of attestation. Commanding Officer Commanding Officer 12 In the case of a person found medically unsuitable for air force service as aircrew but not physically unfit for ground duties. (i) The Air Secretary (ii) Commanding Officer in the case of directly entered aircrew cadets The Air Secretary 13 In the case of a person found to be unsuited to a Service environment. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary Air Force Board Air Force Board 14 Having given a false answer on attestation or having made a misstatement on enlistment. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 15 For inefficiency. Commander-in-Chief Air Force Board Air Force Board Air Force Board 16 Services no longer required (a) in the case of a person found to be unsuitable during recruit training. Commanding Officer Commanding Officer (b) in the case of a person found to be unsuitable in trade, category or rank. Commander-in-Chief Air Force Board Air Force Board Air Force Board (c) in the case of a person who cannot be allowed to remain in the Service because he/ she is unable to meet Service obligations through circumstances beyond his/her control or because of a permanently reduced medical employment standard for whom a medical discharge would not be appropriate. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 17 Not likely to reach the standard required for air force service (a) in the case of officer cadets who fail initial officer training. Commandant RAF College and Director of Recruitment (RAF) (b) in the case of non-commissioned aircrew who fail training prior to the award of a flying badge. Commanding Officer 18 In the case of aircrew found to be below the required standard for air force service other than those under item 19. The Air Secretary 19 In the case of non-commissioned aircrew who fail OCU training prior to giving productive aircrew service. The Air Secretary 20 In the case of a Warrant Officer/Master Aircrew who is reduced to the ranks and claims discharge under section 15 of the 1955 Act. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 21 On redundancy. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 22 In the case of a person who is surplus to requirements in a specific trade and rank. The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary The Air Secretary 23 Statutory right of recruits. Under regulation 8(1) of the Royal Air Force Terms of Service Regulations 2007. Commanding Officer Commanding Officer --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/651/schedule/1/part/1 (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/air-force-act-1955-part-1-regulations-2007/schedule-1/part-1 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.