Yeoviton personnel show their knowledge of the Middle East

Education Officer, Lt Cdr Jim Mallabone, set the essay competition for staff following a fascinating and educational discussion on the state of the Middle East given by Mr Anthony Smallwood to the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (ICSC)officers and Commission Warrant candidates at Yeovilton.

In late June 2014, Mr Smallwood an ex-EU spokesman from Washington DC, British Council representative and member of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) provided an interesting discussion on the state of the Middle East.

Following the presentation it inspired Lt Cdr Jim Mallabone to set an essay competition on the subject. Entrants were asked to write an essay of no more than 1000 words around the topic under a “nom-de-plume” with members of Yeovilton's Command Board voting on the overall winners.

The Commanding Officer of the Air Station,  Commodore Jock Alexander OBE presented first and second place prizes to  Lt Ted Nicholls RN (ATC) and AB2 Sandra Olmesdahl (Executive – holdover) respectively. The award consisted of books selected from Chief of Defence Staffs (CDS) recommended reading list.

Lt Cdr Jim Mallabone said “following the high standard of writing, success and interest in this, the essay competition will be expanded during the autumn to include categories for both Junior and Senior Ratings here at Yeovilton.”