Thames Valley Wing Sector Commander, Squadron Leader Mark Trevena, 50, has recently been awarded a rare Chief of the Air Staff Commendation at a high profile presentation held at RAF Northolt. Each year only 22 of these commendations are presented by the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford.
During the ceremony a list of Sqn Ldr Trevena’s recent accomplishments were read out including the “Are You On Target” roundel for helping cadets understand the opportunities on offer, managing the East Berkshire Sector of the Wing, masterminding the Wing Aerospace Support Platform (WASP) and project managing of an Air Cadet History DVD – a huge project that took over three years to complete with 3,000 copies distributed right across the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force (RAF) Sections.
Sqn Ldr Trevena takes up the story “I was so proud to be awarded this commendation in the New Year’s Honours List and I had been looking forward to receiving it in person for many months indeed. When the citations were read out I was so pleased that my volunteer service had been recognised in the wider Royal Air Force as it is such an accolade for the whole Wing”
After the presentations there was a chance for photographs in front of the Officers’ Mess before a Spitfire and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Flight (lead by ex-Wokingham Cadet – Sqn Ldr “Dunc” Mason) conducted a number of low flypasts before landing and taxiing just a few feet away. After lunch the RAF Falcons carried out their last display of the season with the whole team landing perfectly on the markers before the Chief of the Air Staff took the salute.
Mark concludes “you hear people talking about once in a lifetime opportunities – well, this really was just that. It was wonderful for me, my family and guests to be able to spend almost the whole day with not only the Chief of the Air Staff but also so many inspiring members of the light blue family”.
