additional man dying in an accident in Cyprus after leaving Afghanistan. Additionally, over the same period, three Military Crosses have been awarded to RAF Regiment members for conspicuous bravery. Four RAF Regiment personnel were killed by the IRA, all in 1988 and 1989 - one killed by hostile fire in Northern Ireland, the rest by snipers or car bombs in Europe. The field squadrons are 171 strong making them larger than an infantry company in the British Army but, critically, due to the nature of their structure, a key limitation is that they are only able to operate up to Company/Squadron level and so cannot bring the same 'Mass' to bear of an Infantry Regiment or Battlegroup. Not all personnel on an RAF Regiment squadron are trained gunners but can be involved in specialist support services such as administrators and drivers. A typical RAF Regiment squadron has support elements from the RAF but these personnel do not always deploy on patrols and other combat operations. Formerly, all RAF Regiment personnel were men, as it was British government policy that women could not serve in close combat units. However, the intention was that by the end of 2018, women would be allowed to apply for these roles, with the RAF recruitment website 'looking forward' to female applications for the RAF Regiment. A review in 2017 determined that, although the Regiment was deemed to be the Royal Air Force's infantry, it was more alike to the Royal Armoured Corps in terms of risk. As a result, women will be allowed into the RAF Regiment from September 2017, which is a full year before other infantry units. In January 2020, the first female recruit to complete the 20-week training course passed out of RAF Honington. , there are approximately 1,850 regulars. In March 2021, it was announced that the regular force is expected to be reduced by 300 personnel by 2023. Current RAF Regiment units Field Squadrons 1 Squadron (based at RAF Honington, Suffolk) II Squadron (Parachute) (based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire) 15 Squadron (based at RAF Marham, Norfolk) 34 Squadron (based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire) 51 Squadron (based at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray) 63 Squadron (King's Colour Squadron) (based at RAF Northolt, Middlesex) Other units Force Protection RAF Force Protection - HQ at RAF Honington No. 2 Force Protection Wing - RAF Leeming No. 3 Force Protection Wing - RAF Marham