JLSO Medal Ceremony
Medals awarded at the ceremony (WN09-0025-07)
12 February 2009
On Monday 9 February six New Zealand Defence Force personnel were presented with medals in front of proud families and colleagues who had gathered at the Joint Logistic Support Organisation (JLSO) Headquarters in Trentham.
JLSO Commander, Air Commodore Stewart Baillie, and the Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner, congratulated the medal recipients and commented that it was great to see so many family members and peers at the ceremony.
Sub Lieutenant Andre Ronald Olivier, Royal New Zealand Navy, was awarded the New Zealand General Service Medal Afghanistan Primary for his service in Afghanistan in 2008.
The Clasp to the New Zealand Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 30 years service was given to Warrant Officer Class One Graeme Roberts, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Army. Warrant Officer Roberts enlisted into the New Zealand Army in1975.
The New Zealand General Service Medal (Timor-Leste) was awarded to Flying Officer Liam Peter Shanahan, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flying Officer Shanahan had served in Timor-Leste in 2008 as the Camp Adjutant.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was awarded to Sergeant Darryl McCurdy, Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Warrant Officer Robert Mowat, Royal New Zealand Engineers, NZ Army, was presented with two awards at a ceremony; The New Zealand General Service Medal (Timor-Leste) for his work in the Engineer Surge Team, as well as the Chief of Army Commendation for his exceptional conduct as a JLSO Project Engineer on an NZDF Infrastructure Project.
Major General Lou Gardiner had singled out Warrant Officer Mowat for his excellent work on what was a complex infrastructure project. He said WO2 Mowat had “set a great example to subordinates, peers and superiors alike”. Throughout the building project WO2 Mowat had continually displayed the qualities of commitment, trust and courage - the values that members of the New Zealand Army strive to achieve.
United States Defence Attache Captain Dawn Driesbach, US Navy, presented Major Sholto Stephens the US Command and Staff College Master Tactician award and gifted him a sword at the JLSO ceremony. Major Stephens recently returned to New Zealand after a year at the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Of the 300 students on his course Major Stephens was chosen for the General George S. Patton Jr Master Tactician prize, and his fellow students nominated him for a second honour, the Major General Hans Schlup Award for Excellence in International Relations, of which Major Stephens said “It was very humbling to be even considered for it.”
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