Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
| Royal Air Force Nursing Service | |
|---|---|
| Active |
1 June 1918–present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Allegiance | HM The Queen |
| Branch | RAF Medical Services |
| Type | Nursing |
| Role | Medicine |
| Size | 498 nurses |
| Garrison/HQ |
Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) part of University Hospital Birmingham |
| Engagements |
World War II, Korean War, Falklands War, Gulf War (Op GRANBY), Bosnian War, Kosovo War, War in Afghanistan, Gulf War II (Op TELIC) |
| Commanders | |
| Matron-In-Chief | Group Captain Phil Spragg |
| Patron | HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, LG, GCVO |
| Insignia | |
| RAF Ensign |  |
| Red Cross Emblem |  |
1 June 1918–present
Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (PMRAFNS) is the nursing branch of the British Royal Air Force.
It was established as the Royal Air Force Temporary Nursing Service (RAFNS) in 1918, and became part of the permanent establishment as the Royal Air Force Nursing Service on 27 January 1921. It received the Royal prefix after Princess Mary agreed to become its Patron in June 1923.
It was a women-only branch until 1980, when men were also permitted to join. Until the Second World War, it was only open to unmarried women, or childless widows. There was also a Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (Reserve) (PMRAFNS(R)) to supplement the regular service during times of war or emergencies.
Its current mission statement reads: "The Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service is committed to providing a nursing workforce that is determined to develop the skills, knowledge and ability to deliver high quality care whilst being responsive to the dynamic nature of RAF Nursing in peacetime and on operations."
A history of the service was commissioned from the writer Mary Mackie and appeared in 2001. An updated and extended edition covering subsequent decades (including service in Afghanistan) was published in September 2014.
The initial ranking system used by the PMRAFNS was as follows.
From 1 June 1943, PMRAFNS personnel were granted emergency Commissions, and wore rank insignia corresponding to their equivalent Royal Air Force officer rank. On 1 February 1949, the women's forces were integrated into the Armed Forces, and a new ranking system was introduced, although professional titles were still used on the wards.
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