THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

WALKING AND ROAD MARCHING ASSOCIATION

(British Walking Federation Club No 2)

1

The 37thAnnual

ROYAL AIR FORCE 2-DAY

MARCH

To be held at RAF Cosford

By kind permission of the Station CommanderRAF Cosford

21nd–22rdApril 2018

INITIAL INFORMATION FOR

MILITARY TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS

ENTRY FORMS A & B ARE SEPARATE ATTACHMENTS AND MUST

BE COMPETED AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY

Email

BWF(IVV) APPROVED

BRIEF OVERVIEW

Please ensure you read the entire document before entering your team.

Date.21-22 Apr18

Venue.RAF Cosford

Map/Grid Ref.127 798052 (Post Code: WV7 3EX)

Start Times & Distances.

Saturday 40 km (Red) Route.06:50 hrs - 07:30 hrs,booking in from 06:15 hrs.

Sunday 40 km (Red) Route.06:20 hrs - 07:00 hrs,booking in from 05:45 hrs.

Saturday/Sunday 20 km (Blue) Route:07:30 hrs - 08:15 hrs, booking in from 07:00 hrs.

Accommodation.Available Friday & Saturday night only

Military ParticipantsArrival.Strictly between 18:30-23:00 hrson Fri 20April 18

Meals.

Saturday:Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner.

Sunday:Breakfast Packed Lunch.

Cost.

Non-RAFWARMA Member £40.00.

RAF WARMA Affiliate Club Members£38.00* (Max 15 per club)

RAFWARMA Individual Member£30.00*

Drivers £30.00

Overseas or UK Non-Entitled£45.00

(*RAFWARMA Membership number to be quoted on entry form)

Closing Dates.

02 Mar 18- For Team Registration Form A and £100 per team deposit.

02 Mar18 - For Individual Registration Form A and B and full payment.

14 Mar 18- For Participant Registration Form B and balance of payment.

06 Apr 18- Last changes to initial registration – deletions only after this date.

Limitation on Participants. Food and Accommodation is restricted to 1400 military participants.

Electronic Entry Forms. Electric Entry forms are available on follow the link for RAF 2 Day March. Only electronic entries will be accepted.

Nijmegen Qualification. Males between the age of 19 – 49 should read para 27 if qualifying for Nijmegen.

First Time TLsWeekend (FTTLW). The FTTLW is scheduled to take place 17-18March 2018 – closing date for entry to this event is1700 hrs 16 February 2018.

Event Contact Details. The event is organised by the Royal Air Force Walking & Road Marching Association (RAF WARMA), with the Events Secretary RAFWARMA as your only point of contact. The Email address is:

Please do not contact RAF Cosford for any RAF 2-Day March details.

Entry Fees. Entry fees can be paid by Bank Transfer or Cheque. If you need to send a cheque, please make it payable to: RAFWARMA & send it toRAFWARMA, PO Box 567, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 9GL. It should be sent along with an exact hard copy of the electronic entry form you have sent by email. Entry Forms A & B MUST be sent electronically in the format issued (do not hand-write then scan – or change document format). Please comply with the instructions in Paragraph 20b.

Your payment details should be completed on the entry forms.

Bank Details for Bank Transfer Payments:

Account Name: Royal Air Force Walking & Road Marching Association

Account Number: 36555754

Sort Code: 54-10-23

When making a bank transfer payment (for your Form A deposit), please quote 2DM18 followed by your Team Name. When making a bank transfer for your balance of payment (Form B), please quote 2DM18 followed by your Team Database Number and Team Name.

PLEASE NOTE:

All entry forms MUST be submitted electronically and preferably all payments made by bank transfer.

If telephone contact is essential, please email and the Events Secretary will contact you.

Email:

Please note that this event is entirely separate from any entry or payment

(RAF, HQ Land or HQAC) you may make for the Nijmegen Marches.

ROYAL AIR FORCE TWO DAY MARCH 2017

Please read these instructions in full, as changes may have been made since the last time you and your team attended the event. Do not rely on previous experience as this may cause you and your team embarrassment if you get it wrong. Please contact the RAF WARMA Event Secretary in the first instance if clarification is required of any point(s).

  1. Introduction. The 37thAnnual RAF 2-Day March will be held at RAF Cosford over the weekend 21-22 Apr18. The event will be administered by the RAF Walking and Road Marching Association (RAFWARMA), and is one of the compulsory qualifying Marches for UK based military personnel wishing to participate in the 2018 Nijmegen Marches. Read these instructions carefully as failure to comply with them may result in you or your team not qualifying for the Nijmegen Marches.
  2. Participation. This event is open to individuals and teams from all military services and cadet organisations. TLs are to hold the minimum substantive rank of Sgt, but should ideally be a Commissioned Officer. Two distances are available (20 km and 40 km) over 2 days. Participants aiming to qualify for the British Military Contingent (BMC) at Nijmegen are to indicate so on the entry form. The RAF 2-Day March is not a race, therefore speed marching and jogging are strictly forbidden. Any team member caught contravening this rule will result in the team being warned of disqualification, followed by the withdrawal of the whole team for any subsequent speed marching or jogging offence. This is an important safety rule, so teams must train as they mean to march.
  3. Team Size and Composition. A team is to consist of at least 11 personnel (male, female or mixed), including the Team Leader (TL). The maximum permitted team size is 15. The minimum team size to qualify for a team award is 10, including the TL. Only those participants registered as military will be permitted to march in uniform. Cadetsregistered as military participants may only march as part of an official team led by cadet forces adult staff. The normal cadet forces rules on staff supervision ratios are to be applied at all times, both while on the marching routes and at RAF Cosford.
  4. Civilian Participants. Civilian participants who have pre-registered for the event are welcome to take part and use the full range of march support facilities. Civilian participants are not permitted to wear military uniform. For ease of administration a separate entry form has been produced (pre-registration only) and is available at
  1. Key Dates.
  2. The closing dates are:

02 Mar 18 / Form A Initial Application for Teams / £100 deposit per Team.
02 Mar 18 / Form A & B for Individuals
(maximum 3 per wing/unit) / Full payment with application
14 Mar 18 / Form B
Team Participant Details / Balance of Payment
06 Apr 18 / Final team member changes

Accommodation and messing will be provided for up to 1400 military participants meeting the 14 Mar 18 deadline. Participants may be able to register after this date, subject to availability of places. Priority for entry will be given to those teams that are using the event as a qualification march for the Nijmegen Marches as part of the BMC, followed by teams that intend to participate at Nijmegen as a civilian team entry. Units that have traditionally entered multiple teams will still be able to do so; however they will have to clearly identify teams qualifying for Nijmegen as either BMC or civilian entry, and be timely in submitting paperwork to ensure they maximise their chance of entry success. In the event of entry numbers breaching 1400,RAF WARMA will use the period 19-26 Mar 18 to keep Units with multiple entries informed of their entry status. By working to a fixed maximum number, RAF WARMA are seeking to ensure that there are confirmed bedspaces for every participant as of 14 Mar 18.

  1. The latest date for changes to your initial registration is 06 Apr 18. After this date only deletions for your list of participants will be accepted.
  1. Insurance. Participants are strongly urged to consider Personal Accident Insurance whilst participating in this event. The organisers cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to items of personal or service provided kit. Participants are advised to insure all items of equipment against loss or damage. Participants take part at their own risk. The organisers and MOD cannot accept responsibility for injury or loss.
  2. Duty of Care. The RAF 2-Day March is a very challenging and physically demanding activity. Participants are expected to have trained and be properly prepared and equipped for the exercise. On receipt of the Participant Admin Order for the event which will be issued in Mar 17, there will be declaration forms which TLs will have to sign certifying that alltheir team members have been properly trained and are fully equipped iaw the Admin Order. Similarly, all the marchers will have to individually sign a separate declaration form that they are medically fit (to the best of their knowledge) and have no pre-existing injures that may affect their success in the RAF 2-Day March. These forms will be handed over on initial registration for the event at RAF Cosford and retained by the Chairman RAFWARMA for 3 years. Therefore, TLs are strongly advised to use the next few months wisely, and attend the training event 17-18Mar 18, if this is their first time as Team Leader.
  3. Event Categories.
  4. 40 kmTeam Composition: Male, female, mixed.

Individuals: Male, female any rank.

  1. 20 kmTeam Composition: Male, female, mixed.

Individuals:Male, female any rank.

  1. Event Start/Finish Times.
  2. Saturday 40 km (Red) Route06:50 hrs - 07:30 hrs

booking in from 06:15 hrs.

  1. Sunday 40 km (Red) Route06:20 hrs - 07:00 hrs

booking in from 06:00 hrs.

  1. Saturday/Sunday07:30 hrs - 08:15 hrs 20 km (Blue) Route

booking in from 07:00 hrs.

d.Participants not meeting the finish times will only receive an award at the discretion of the RAF WARMA committee. Participants using the event to qualify for Nijmegen not meeting the finish time will only qualify at the discretion of OC BMC. The finish times for each day are as follows:

  1. Saturday 1700
  1. Sunday 1600
  1. Contingency Vehicles. The organisers will provide the requisite number of vehicles to fully support the event; however, they may also be required to provide additional vehicles in the event of an unexpected contingency or security situation. These vehicles will be drawn from the 'pool' of vehicles used to transport teams to and from RAF Cosford. Provision of drivers and vehicles for this purpose is entirely voluntary and subject to the agreement of Team Leaders, but the vehicle use will be solely to evacuate the marchers from the route.
  2. Drivers. Non-marching drivers are to be seconded to the RAF 2-Day March staff to assist with tasks associated with the event. A facilities fee of £30.00 per head will be charged for such individuals. TLs are to register non-marching drivers on the electronic entry form, against the code “AD”. Do not register drivers who are not staying at RAF Cosford. Cycle Orderlies and other support vehicles are NOT permitted.
  3. Accommodation. Accommodation is not available for single day marchers. Accommodation will only be available for the nights of 20 and 21Apr 18 only. All accommodation is allocated on arrival by the organisers, therefore participants are not to contact RAF Cosford for accommodation at any time. Only personnel on the accommodation strength for the event will be permitted to use the Messing facilities for meals.
  4. Male Marchers. All male marchers, irrespective of rank, will be accommodated in either Barrack Blocks, gymnasium ormarqueesat RAF Cosford.
  5. Female Marchers. All female marchers, irrespective of rank, will be accommodated in Barrack Blocks at RAF Cosford.

The accommodation arrangements are subject to change and will be confirmed in the Administration Order for the event published around inMar 18.

  1. Messing Charges. RAF Cosford is a Pay As You Dine (PAYD) unit. Messing charges will be included in the March Entry Fee. Messing will be provided for the first 1400military marchers accommodated at RAF Cosford, those personnel that are not accommodated on base will have to make their own Messing arrangements away from RAF Cosford.
  2. Meals. All participants will be issued with a participant’s card which will also be their meal card. All meals will be taken in the JRM irrespective of rank. Personnel not in possession of aparticipant’s card will not be provided with meals; lost cards will not be replaced.
  3. Saturday - Breakfast, packed lunch and an evening meal will be provided.
  4. Sunday - Breakfast and packed lunch only.

No meals will be available on the evening of Fri 20 or Sun 22Apr 18.

  1. Additional Catering Facilities. For teams requiring additional food and refreshments prior to and at the end of the RAF 2-Day March, a variety of civilian catering outlets are available in the village of Albrighton some 2 miles south of RAF Cosford. In addition, a civilian petrol station with a shop and Subway snack facilities is located on the A41 adjacent to RAF Cosford. There are 2 Starbucks on RAF Cosford with snack facilities; one will be open during phases of the event.
  2. Awards. A 2-Day March medal will be awarded to each marcher completing the event for the first, fifth and tenth time; an appropriately numbered pin will be awarded for second third, sixth etc. Teams completing with a maximum of 10% drop outs (subject to starting with a minimum of 10) will also qualify for a team award. RAFWARMA will present a trophy to the best RAF Sponsored Adult Team, the best Army Sponsored Adult Team and the best Cadet Team on the 40 km route. A 4th trophy will be awarded to the best international team irrespective of distance. The highest standards of leadership, determination, team spirit, general behaviour on and off the marching routes, plus team administration will all be taken into account, in determining the winners. The decision of the RAFWARMA Committee is final in the award of these trophies. The trophies will be presented at 1600 hrs on 22 Apr 18.
  3. Entry Fees. All marchers, irrespective of rank, will be charged a march entry fee which includes use of march facilities and the RAF 2-Day March Medal and IVV Stamp. The rates are as follows:
  4. Non-RAFWARMA Member£40.00
  5. RAFWARMA Member£30.00*
  6. RAFWARMA Affiliated Club Members£38.00* (Max 15 per club)
  7. Driver (non-marching driver – see para 9)£30.00
  8. Overseas Military/UK Non-Entitled£45.00

(*RAFWARMA Membership number to be quoted on entry form)

Refunds will not be given once entry fees have been paid

(Units/Wings sending £100 deposit per team will be able to transfer this amount to another team from the same unit/wing, should the overall number of teams reduce, but only before 14 Mar18)

  1. Entry Forms and Joining Instructions. Read the guide to completion carefully and completeEntry Forms A and B. An acknowledgement/receipt of entry will be issued once all fees have been received, this may be sent before your final joining instructions – all documents will be sent electronically. Electronic copies of the entry forms can be obtained from . Email if you have not received your acknowledgement/receipt of entry and/or joining instructions by 2Apr 18.
  2. Compilation of Entry Forms. Entry forms are to be completed and submitted electronically in the programme/format supplied. No hand-written or typed hard copies will be accepted. Please note: you should enter the Team Leader first (TL) followed by the remainder of the team in alphabetical order. The maximum team size is 15, including the team leader. Only use the rows marked as “AD” for Drivers who require accommodation with your team. For units with more than 15 marching participants, multiple teams should be entered. Amendments to your initial registration can be made up to 1700 hrs Fri06 Apr 18. After this date, only deletions will be accepted.
  3. After you have submitted your initial entry using Forms A and B – any corrections/amendments/deletions must only be notified on the Amendment Form. Do not attempt to re-send Entry Form B.
  4. Participants who are not registered by 06 Apr 18. Disciplinary action may be taken against any Team Leader who ignores this instruction. TLswho bring unregistered marchers to the event should note that those individuals will not be permitted to participate in the event and may be RTU’d.
  5. Teams/Individuals intending to enter are to compile their entry forms iaw the guide to compilation attached and ensure they follow the basic submission process below:
  6. Your Entry Forms MUST be sent electronically to Payment MUST be received within 7 days of transmission (and by 02 Mar 18 and 14 Mar 18 respectively) or your entry will be processed as at the date of receipt of payment. Payment of fees by cheque should be accompanied with a hard copyof your Entry Forms (these must be EXACTLY the same as the Entry Forms you have submitted electronically).These should be sent by post, do not send by recorded delivery. If making a Bank Transfer Payment, you do not need to send hard copies. If your final payment has not arrived by the closing date of 14Mar18 your entry will be transferred to the reserve list.
  7. Send only 1 cheque per team entry, payable to RAFWARMA. If individual entries are made alongside a team, a separate cheque is required for each. Multiple teams from the same unit must send a separate cheque for each team. Bank Transfers should also be made per Team so these can be attached to each entry and the payment details submitted on the entry form(s).
  8. When making a bank transfer payment (for your Form A deposit), please quote 2DM18 followed by your Team Name. When making a bank transfer for your balance of payment (Form B), please quote 2DM18 followed by your Team Database Number and Team Name.
  9. Full service details, includingservice numbers, are required for all military personnel.
  10. Do not leave any blank spaces on the entry form. All information requested is required in full. Blank spaces will cause the data import to fail and team members may not be registered.
  11. IVV Certification. The RAF 2-Day March is BWF(IVV) registered. An IVV stamp is available for each day walked.

General March Information