Worshipful Company of Carmen

THE CARMEN’S SWORD OF HONOUR 

 

Captain ALEX NORMAN RLC...as the best junior officer in an all arms training environment, deployed to Afghanistan, commanding 1 Squadron, the Queen’s Own Gurkha Regiment. Initially Squadron Operations Officer, he helped plan dismounted close combat training, became Squadron Administrative Officer, multi-tasking his troop and squadron, and was hand-picked to command the troop detached to 4 Logistics Support Regiment, retraining for combat logistic patrols. He successfully integrated a gurkha troop into a British squadron and, selected as an immediate resupply group commander, directly sustaining battle groups in theatre, he demonstrated outstanding leadership, planning and staff work, marking him out as an exceptional young officer.

              

 

Private KAILASHMAN LIMBU RLC...whose professionalism, courage and dedication to duty motivate his peers. In 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment in an infantry-based police mentoring role, he deployed to Afghanistan as a Ridgeback driver. Near Lashkar Gah, coming under small arms fire, he calmly and skilfully drove clear of an ambush - his group’s first experience of direct combat. Five weeks later, alongside Afghan police, his team came under sniper, then three machine guns’ attack. He immediately returned fire with his machine gun, supressing the enemy, wresting the initiative and enabling his team to extract. Firing over 300 rounds and providing target information for air response, his prompt, professional action prevented any casualties.              

 

Flight Lieutenant JIM DAVIES RAF...of 16 Air Assault Brigade, where he has radically raised the profile of the RAF movements community, developing air despatch capability, initiating  a major review of troops in fighting trim regulations and leading logistics for a key brigade exercise. On graduation from the Defence Movements School, he was appointed 1 Air Mobility Wing flight commander, then selected as wing operations and plans officer, successfully overhauling tasking, improving preparedness for contingency operations and coming fifth out of 60 applicants for Pegasus Company, the pre-selection course for the Parachute Regiment. Deployed to Afghanistan, he worked three months’ night shifts without down time, on repatriation ceremonies, VIP movements and casualty evacuations.

 

Senior Aircraftman CRAIG NICHOLS RAF...who rapidly established his movements operator abilities on A Shift, Air Movements Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, outperforming his peer group in cargo, traffic and passenger basic movements, applying his Defence Movements School training seamlessly. He has deservedly achieved responsibility for the outbound passenger process, delegating tasks, liaising with the Duty Air Movements officer, mentoring newer shift members, and interacting across ranks, including briefing groups of  up to 290 passengers. He has been recommended for further movements training ahead of his peers.

THE CARMEN’S 2 MECHANICAL TRANSPORT SQUADRON AWARD 2012 

 

Corporal AARON SMITH RAF...a junior operational support flight NCO, selected ahead of 16 other experienced instructors as office manager/instructor at Sergeant level. He single handedly compiled the station’s annual road safety submission and with exemplary trade knowledge, inspires, leads, trains and mentors students. In Bavaria, he gave driver training to 30 adventurous training instructors, at home he trained drivers for a possible civilian tanker driver strike and then deployed as controller of the transport coordination cell for the Olympics, developing a fully operational support role for those employed on security, with 50 tri-service drivers. Key to the annual trade football competition and the Prince’s Trust visits, he has given exceptional loyalty as well as dedication and commitment to the Squadron.               

 

Squadron Leader NEIL PHILP RAF...who commands B Flight, is responsible for high technical merit aircrew training in Tactical Air Transport, and excels as aviator, instructor and operational war-fighter in arguably the most demanding flying role within 2 Group, in support of highly specialised Air Transport capabilities, he has increased trained personnel well beyond that thought possible, simultaneously supporting ops in Afghanistan. He re-shaped the Tactical Air Transport training plan, introducing complex training sorties to simulate contingent overseas tasks that the Hercules Force holds at daily readiness. Philp’s work is the cornerstone of the Squadron’s training strategy. He has also achieved coveted Combat Ready (Select) status, the only Hercules pilot in the RAF to do so.                

 

Lieutenant JIM BUTLER RN ...deployed to the Gulf as Staff Logistics Officer to UK mine and counter measure logistics, and as Group Logistics Coordinator at task group level, a role normally undertaken at Commander rank. He joined an unfamiliar battle staff without prior force training, ensuring total operational readiness, and uniquely exercising tactical control of MCM vessels, river boats and underwater patrols. In harsh conditions he delivered over extended lines, underpinning mission success as the sole logistics officer, without relevant staff. He then provided support for the largest MCM exercise ever in the USNavy 5th Fleet operational area, including 30 nations. His was an extraordinary performance in an area of major importance to UK strategic interests. 

 

LLSC KATHLEEN HYNES RN ...as the first supply chain rating in the UK maritime component commander’s staff in the United Arab Emirates, establishing effective supply of high priority spares to naval assets in the Gulf.  The only junior rating, often alone and unsupervised, she undertook tasks and decisions usually associated with a specialist officer, her professionalism and improvement in logistic support widely recognised. She became the linchpin in JIT sonar array supply to frigates and submarines in this sensitive region, while maintaining all other tasks, dealing with industry, host nation, and port agency contractor, normally officers’ duties. She has created a fortified supply chain in the Gulf which will remain an exceptional legacy.

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