CAF’s Commendations

F/S Cocker is supported by his wife Cathryn at the Base Woodbourne ceremony.WB-07-0131-11-tn.jpg.

At the Air Force News I like to keep up-to-date with personnel’s awards, citations and commendations. Unfortunately the odd one sometimes unintentionally slips through the net. A case in point was a CAF’s Commendation to F/S Micheal Cocker back in June 2007.

The ‘slip’ was brought to my attention by F/S Cocker’s daughter, Hannah, in a very polite but earnest e-mail. Hannah and her sister felt that her dad’s CAF Commendation should have been, at least, mentioned in the Air Force News. I couldn’t agree more, so below, in full, I have reproduced the citation that accompanied the CAF Commendation.

At the same ceremony two others were also recognised for their dedication – civilians Mr Brian ‘Bunny’ Warren for ‘the Review of W/O and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Training 2004-2006 - a “new” Leadership Continuum designed to meet the generic requirements of specific RNZAF ranks,’ and Mr Buck Beveridge, ‘for outstanding zeal and devotion to duty throughout the 41 years of service to the RNZAF.’

F/S Micheal Cocker’s citation reads:

F/S Micheal Cocker enlisted in the RNZAF on the 10th October 1977 as a junior medical assistant and has served continuously in the RNZAF since that date. During his service career he has served on all RNZAF Bases and with the NZ Force Hospital in Singapore. He has gained significant operational experience in his trade with deployments to East Timor, Bougainville, Afghanistan and Sumatra. F/S Cocker is currently posted to Air Base Wing Woodbourne where he has been employed as the senior non-commissioned officer-in-charge of Medical Flight since September 2003, (though since this was done he has now been posted to Joint Services Health School where he is the course manager for the medic tri-Service intermediate course).

F/S Cocker’s personal files include many positive reports, both whilst on operational service and post deployment, citing his exemplary performance. Examples include his detachment commander ’s report from the Timor deployment where he was awarded the sector commanders commendation in which F/S Cocker is described as the ‘consummate medical professional’ for his dedication. F/S Cocker’s report from his tour with the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group in Afghanistan is also particularly fulsome with praise of the numerous examples given of service and performance beyond the normal expectations of a senior medic. Included in this report were the statements such as ‘selected by Wing Command Chief to receive excellence award for outstanding contributions’, ‘expert clinical instructor’, ‘absolute team player’, ‘supported junior staff members who were apprehensive of the situation’ and ‘the driving force for leadership and quality patient care for the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group’.