CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF VISITS RAF ST MAWGAN, THE HOME OF DEFENCE SURVIVAL TRAINING
An RAF base which teaches military personnel to stay alive in hostile environments has hosted a VIP to see its world class training first hand.
During a two-day fact finding mission to RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton saw the station at work as the centre of excellence for Defence Survival Training.
The base, whose motto is ‘To Teach the Best to Survive the Worst,’ supports and prepares thousands of UK and NATO personnel for operations in Afghanistan and across the world every year. Last year saw the base host 1200 personnel of the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, and this year will see that number increase to about 2000 personnel.
The Station, which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary, is the only RAF base in the SW of England and has ambitious plans to develop a former Second World War airfield nearby into a new training area enhancing its facilities and bringing a welcome boost to the local economy.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, said:
“I have greatly enjoyed my visit to Royal Air Force St Mawgan where I have had the opportunity to meet the unit’s Service and civilian personnel and to see first hand what great work the Station does on behalf of all our Armed Forces.”
During the visit he met station personnel and presented awards to four RAF personnel in recognition of their outstanding professionalism and dedication to the service.
In particular he awarded Flight Sergeant Boswell with a Chief of the Air Staff personal award for continually going well above the call of duty on every occasion and proving to be an outstanding ambassador for the British Military and the RAF Regiment. In particular he leads on youth engagement for the RAF in the South West, working very closely with key stakeholders across the region ranging from Young Offenders, Youth related charities to Youth Clubs.
Sergeant Dye from the Defence Survival School was awarded the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal and Senior Aircraftsman (SAC) Cooper from RNAS Culdrose received the Operational Service Medal for duty in Afghanistan.
Finally, SAC Garth was awarded the W F MacNeece Sword. The Sword is awarded annually to the service person or civilian who has contributed the most to RAF St Mawgan throughout the previous year. SAC Garth has delivered when those around her have reached their limits. She has become known as a ‘can do’ person and her unswerving attitude, dedication to RAF St Mawgan and the RAF as a whole is inspiring to those around her, and as such, she is a justified winner of the Station sword for 2012.#
Sir Stephen said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet and congratulate Flight Sergeant Dan Boswell, and to present him with my personal commendation recognising his exceptional work in supporting RAF St Mawgan and the wider RAF. He and the others who have received awards are a shining example of all that is good about today’s RAF personnel.”
The Station Commander, Wing Commander Philip Lamb, said “We are delighted to welcome the CAS to RAF St Mawgan, and are proud to have had the opportunity to demonstrate what we do and present our future plans in supporting the RAF and wider Defence.
Edited by Mr M Edwards & Mr M Wilson
Crown Copyright 2013
