RAC Alumni – Terms of Reference

1. Aim. The aim of the RAC Alumni is to harness the power of the network of fellow RAC officers and soldiers in whatever capacity.

In order to:

a. Revive and reinforce a sense of belonging by linking RAC people together so they can help each other as required.

b. To help those leaving the RAC to find new employment.

c. To provide a source of advice to potential RAC officers and soldiers as recommended by the RAC Alumni.

d. Provide a conduit for the MoD to the RAC veteran community, and vice versa for up to date army / MoD veteran policy such as implementation of the Military Covenant.

e. Provide opportunities to make and share contacts.

f. Provide a context for reconnecting with old friends / colleagues by providing useful networking opportunities.

2. Structure. The RAC Alumni will be made up of two key elements as shown below.  The two parts of the organisation will be mutually supporting, the sum of which will provide the framework to deliver the aims as outlined above.

a. Employment Support. This element of the RAC Alumni will be open to all parts of the RAC ecosystem[1] regardless of whether or not they are registered with the RAC Alumni.  It will provide a number of free to use Employment Support resources, which have been made available to the RAC Alumni by Armed Forces Covenant registered civilian organisations that want to give something back to the military.  These resources will be available through the RAC Alumni pages on the RAC Website at https://www.royalarmouredcorps.org.uk

b. Cavalry Lunch Club (CLC) / Networking. This element of the RAC Alumni will provide the context for reconnecting with old friends / colleagues by providing useful networking opportunities such as the CLC lunches. Those that have registered with the RAC Alumni will have the choice to opt in or out of this element of the organisation, with those opting in joining the CLC via LinkedIn at Cavalry Lunch Club

3. Governance. The RAC Alumni will be governed and coordinated by a small committee consisting of the following:

a. President – Ex senior RAC Officer – Currently Gen Sir James Everard KCB CBE

b. Joint Chairmanship:

(1)  Ex serving RAC Officer (Headhunter / City based) – Currently Mr Simon Vaughan-Edwards

(2)  Ex Officio Chairman (Col RAC) – Currently Col Paddy Williams MC ADC

c. Committee:

(1)  Membership Secretary (Ex serving RAC) – Currently Mr Bill Jowitt

(2)  Events Secretary (Ex serving RAC) – Currently Mr Martin Horsford

(3)  Ex Officio HQ RAC member (RAC Corps Secretary) – Currently Lt Col (Retd) Richard Watson

(4)  Ex Officio HQ RAC member (SO3 Media and Comms) – Currently Mr Gabriel Lesmoir-Gordon

(5)  Ex senior RAC Soldier member – Currently Mr Mark Budd

(6) Ex Serving RAC Officer member (Resettlement / Employee liaison) – Currently Mr Ed Plunkett

(7)  RAC Reservist Member – Currently WO1 Dave Tomlin

The Chairman and Committee will meet a minimum of once a quarter in order to monitor all aspects of the Alumni organisation.  Additional meetings to organise CLC / networking events will take place as required.

4. Registration / Membership. Registration with the RAC Alumni will be open to all serving ex serving RAC officers and soldiers that are keen to be involved regardless of time served.  This will be done via the RAC Alumni pages on the RAC Website (https://www.royalarmouredcorps.org.uk), and on signing up to the organisation people will be able to opt in or out of the CLC / Networking element as described above.

5.  Summary.   The RAC Alumni is an organisation for those serving and ex serving members of the RAC, regardless of their rank or time served, who are keen to stay in touch and give something back to the Corps as a whole.  It is not designed to replace or undermine the already very good networks that all our regiments have which help people of their cap badge, indeed it will be there to complement these networks and to help strengthen the RAC First Corps ethos overall.


[1] Serving personnel and their families (for those transitioning out of colour service) and for the veteran community and their families.