THE CARMEN’S SWORD OF HONOUR
Lieutenant NICHOLAS TRAVERS RLC...
Troop Commander, 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Regiment, who volunteered for the UK’s Operation Gritrock response to the Sierra Leone Ebola crisis. Returning to the UK, as lead subaltern delivering ceremonial duties to mark 200 years Gurkha service, he liaised complex security and protocol with London District, Palaces and Regimental HQ. As Operations Officer, District Ebola Response Centre, Tonkolili, a Captain’s role, he devised logistic solutions, including time-critical management of lab samples for 14 new medical facilities, which elevated him to DERC Chief of Staff appointment. Believing cross-district border transmission of Ebola was key, he structured a successful plan of agency interaction, adopted by all districts – altogether an exemplary career start by an exceptional junior officer.
THE CARMEN’S ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS CUP
awarded to the
CARMEN’S SOLDIER OF THE YEAR 2016
Private MEGAN WALFORD RLC...
for unsurpassed impact on unit life and her sporting prowess. RLC young sportswoman and Army Heptathlon Champion 2014, selected for the 2016 British Olympic Girls for Gold programme, she is Captain of the Regimental boxing team, swims for Army and Corps, selected for Girls for Gold weightlifting and taekwondo, Corps netball and basketball, won the Army cross-fit team challenge in 2013, completed the Nijmegan march - 100 miles in four days. Working in Oman, San Diego and Norway she completed the Marines cold weather survival course, served in the ATLO team coordinating formation level movements, completing her Class 2 trade course with 90% marks. Raising charitable funds running a 12 hour Zumba Beastathon, Cardiff half marathon, and Bromsgrove Poppy Run, she takes soldiers’ wives Zumba classes, and works with the Bromsgrove Troubled Youths scheme.
THE CARMEN’S RAF CUP
Flight Lieutenant GWEN DURBAN RAF...
as Officer Commanding Cargo for Afghanistan redeployment – the biggest RAF Brize Norton has ever seen. With dated facilities, she formulated a robust bio-wash plan, ensuring swift freight clearance in a mammoth leadership effort, tackling overlapping support for humanitarian ops in Iraq, Sierra Leone’s Ebola crisis, Mediterranean Naval ops, and UN ops in Sudan and Nepal. Within tight timelines and unclear lines of command and control, she liaised with government departments, seizing transformation opportunities, enabling future cargo capability, and moving the imports section to a new hangar. Despite the loss of 73 staff, she also drove early initiatives in Programme Gateway. Hers was an unprecedented 12 months of professional excellence.
THE CARMEN’S RAF MEDAL
Sergeant GARETH LUNDY RAF...
for his critical and enduring contribution to operational output, generating improved governance and aviation safety within No 1 Air Mobility Wing and the wider logistics movement trade. He has personally taken quality assurance from negligible to MOD quality award status, instigating change despite ingrained scepticism. He led trade-wide development of down-route despatch of Voyager aircraft, utilised 2 Group Assurance Review into ground handling and loading hazards to ensure just report and analysis, improving fatigue management, dangerous goods preparation, and engine running on/offload procedures – a major cultural shift, reducing accidents from three per quarter to virtually nil.
THE CARMEN'S ROYAL NAVY CUP
Lieutenant DARREN WALTON RN ...
as Logistics Officer, 820 Naval Air Squadron, for outstanding Ebola crisis logistic support, ensuring stores reached remote locations without land access. Of 5,600 Merlin Force flying hours, his Squadron contributed over 2,000, moving 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid in two days, equivalent to two thirds of that moved by two warships in 10 days in the Philippines disaster and feeding 16,000 people for a month. Sole logistician aboard RFAS Argus, he ensured RFA personnel R and R and organised return UK travel for 82 Squadron personnel during 172 days at sea, personally organised the post-Ebola medal parade at Culdrose, supported Merlin ops in Oman, his department then receiving the highest inspection assurance, despite high tempo, diverse and concurrent global operations.
THE CARMEN'S ROYAL NAVY MEDAL
Leading Steward THOMAS COLLINS RN
for dedication, courage and achievement aboard HMS Enterprise, leading his team with flair, astute administration and financial acumen, utilising ship’s funds to improve welfare for ship’s company and family welfare. He obtained £5,000 for sports equipment, turned round the debt ridden ship’s shop, and organised thirteen family events. Gangway Quartermaster and Duty Leading hand, he was the leader of the feeding team for a migrant rescue. Realising many could not climb aboard unaided, he willingly put himself at the foot of the accommodation ladder, personally helping all 450 migrants aboard, over 12 continuous hours night and day, prioritising medical need, handling children, controlling the refugee boat crowd, only stopping when ordered off-deck.
