Commentary on Sections Section 12: Amendments relating to new rank of lance corporal in RAF Regiment
49.Under AFA 2006 (section 132) a commanding officer can only impose service detention as a punishment on the lowest rank of non-commissioned officer. Until after AFA 2006 was passed, the lowest such rank in the Royal Air Force was that of corporal. This remains the case for most of the RAF, but the RAF has introduced the lower rank of lance corporal within the RAF Regiment. Subsection (1) of section 12 accordingly provides so the power to award detention under section 132 is limited in the case of the RAF Regiment to lance corporals. This makes them subject to the same punishment regime as members of the army or Royal Marines of equivalent rank. Section 135 of AFA 2006 provides for the effect of a reduction in rank by a commanding officer of a corporal in the RAF (he is reduced to the highest rank he has held as an airman). Subsection (2) of section 12 makes express provision (for what is already implicit in section 135) that in the case of the RAF Regiment the commanding officer’s power of reduction in rank to airman is from lance corporal, not corporal.