The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and the Institution presented Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Duncan Booth with the Best REME Senior NCO Award at a prestigious ceremony at 1 Birdcage Walk in London on 6 February.
A delegation from REME led by Colonel Dan Scott ADC CEng FIMechE, attended the event to honour Duncan and recognise his achievements and outstanding service.
Duncan is working in his own time to develop his own skills and professional development through studying for a degree in Engineering Management, as well as working to become an Incorporated Engineer.
During the ceremony, Duncan was presented with a cheque for £250 and the award trophy by the Institution’s Director of Engineering, Dr Colin Brown.
Dan said: “SSgt Booth is an intelligent, dedicated and highly professional engineer who has brought thought, exceptional technical aptitude and masses of enthusiasm to his role as C Squadron’s Fitter Section Artificer.
“His thirst for engineering development, his ability to motivate his Fitter Section in the harshest of environments coupled with an innate ability to communicate his ideas to all levels has seen SSgt Booth shine above all other engineers within the Light Aid Detachment (LAD).
“This is against a back drop of regimental change with the conversion from a tracked reconnaissance vehicle to a light, wheeled platform (RWMIK) and now to the protected mobility vehicle, Jackal.
“His work on equipment support to Light Cavalry during a large scale exercise in Canada is shaping doctrine and igniting debate on how this new type of unit is maintained.
“SSgt Booth has proved his worth as an engineer and technical leader many times. His outstanding attitude and quest to solve engineering problems and make improvements to existing processes is unrelenting.”
According to REME, Duncan, has become a self-taught subject matter expert on the MoD’s Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) software and the use of the JAMES Unplugged Device (JUD). JAMES has a huge capacity to influence the way in which equipment is maintained and moved and tracked, in addition to allowing data to be captured in many areas. According to REME, due to this huge capacity the software can sometimes appear complicated.
Dan commented: “There is no doubt that his work involving JAMES and the support that his fine-tuned Fitter Section provides under his direction is having a huge effect on equipment care and therefore overall availability of equipment in the Regiment.
“SSgt Booth has fully embraced JAMES, realising its capability and potential benefits to users. He briefed and directed staff on JAMES issues he encountered with sensible, easily understood and workable solutions that can be taken forward in next years’ training cycle.
“His work involving equipment support to the Light Cavalry concept will undoubtedly continue to shape the doctrine of the future and he deserves to receive the Best REME Senior NCO award.”
Duncan’s officer commanding, Captain Clare Coward, who nominated Duncan for the award and attended the ceremony said: “I haven’t met a staff sergeant who is as impressive in their range of skills as SSgt Booth.”
“He is very thoughtful of his team and what he achieves in his own time is above and beyond.”
Duncan said: “I’m thankful and always mindful of the great team and people I work with. You need to do everything hand in hand with the team. Also if you don’t get a high level of engagement from people using the vehicles you can’t deliver the support they need.”
Duncan explained how he took a proactive approach to his work. He said: “You need the engagement of the user. It’s about dissolving boundaries and not taking an ‘us and them’ approach. You transit around with the team so when you stop, you need to be proactive and get your team to inspect the vehicles.
“I also train the drivers of the vehicles, giving them in-depth advice in the driving and maintenance of the vehicles so they are able to report potential problems at an early stage.”
Neil Hinchliffe, the Institution’s Business Development Executive and Defence Liaison Officer, gave guests at the event a compelling presentation on the benefits of professional registration.
To find out more about achieving professional registration with the Institution, please contact Neil Hinchliffe by email: n_hinchliffe@imeche.org or by Tel: +44 (0)75 9073 5816.