PROUD MOMENT FOR FOUR WARRANT OFFICERS AT CULDROSE

A group of Warrant Officers from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose were celebrating after receiving their Warrant Officer Parchments from the Head of the Fleet Air Arm.

At a small ceremony in the Warrant Officers and Senior Rates Mess, Rear Admiral Keith Blount OBE - ACNS, (Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation and Carriers), presented the four senior sailors with their certificates, which recognises their achievements of reaching Warrant Officer Class 1.

The four, WO 1 Matt Lawless - Merlin Force Support, WO 1 Ian Morcom - Merlin Force HQ, WO 1 Tony Porter - Senior Maintenance Rating on 824 Naval Air Squadron and WO 1 Tony Staples -  WO Planning, Air Traffic Control,  are all currently serving at Culdrose in some of the air station's senior WO 1 positions.

The Royal Navy's Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm was making his first visit to RNAS Culdrose since taking over, and took time out from his busy schedule to make the presentations.

"I'm very pleased to be amongst such a senior cadre of Fleet Air Arm Warrant Officers," said Admiral Blount. “Reaching the rank of WO 1 is very special and I urge you not to underestimate the importance and value of those badges on your shoulders. Which every CO, Senior Officer and Admiral sees as a 'Kitemark' of absolute quality, moral courage, disciple and understanding of what the Royal Navy is all about."

A Warrant Officer (WO) is a member of the highest group of non-commissioned ranks holding the Queen's Warrant Parchment, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Royal Naval rank of Warrant Officer appeared in 1973, following the Royal Marines and Army models. These new WO's were ratings superior to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and equivalent to WO 1, the rank was initially titled as 'Fleet Chief Petty Officer', becoming Warrant Officers in 1980.

Also receiving awards from the Admiral were two other seniors’ rates. Petty Officer Mark Jones of 849 Naval Air Squadron Normandy Flight who picked up his Long Service and Good Conduct (LSGC) medal for 15 years service and Chief Petty Officer Simon Mallaby who was receiving a clasp to his LSGC medal for an additional 15 years.

Admiral Blount continued, “Thank you all for what you have given. We stand at a beginning of a new era of FAA history, you should be excited, there's a lot to be excited about.”