Commandant General’s Commendation – Nomination Procedure
INTRODUCTION
The need for a Commandant General’s Commendation was identified for the Commandant General of the RAF Regiment to be able to recognize the efforts of Corps individuals or teams within the RAF Regiment family, for example, those of the RAF Regiment Association, who may fall outside of the conventional Service Commanders’ Commendations associated with the New Year’s and The Queen’s Birthday Honours Lists; as such, serving personnel were not originally eligible for consideration. However, from 2013, this stipulation was relaxed and serving personnel are now eligible. Team nominations may also be considered. The Commandant General will, therefore, consider the award of his personal commendation to suitable Corps nominees on an annual basis.
NOMINATION PROCEDURE
The period covered by the Awards will be from 1 August to 31 July annually and the completed nomination must be received by no later than the 1 September 2018. All nominations must be initiated by a suitable Sponsor and supported by one other individual. Sponsors or supporting signatories may not be related to the nominated individual. In the case of a RAF Regiment Association nomination, one of the signatories must be a National or Branch executive while, for serving members, one of the signatories should be of wing commander – or equivalent – rank, and in the individual’s Chain of Command.
All required details must be provided in the nomination and all submissions must be forwarded to the address above for processing by the deadline stated; late submissions will not be considered. All nominations must be submitted formally using the procedure outlined below and on the attached Form. The form should be completed electronically where possible and then signed. However, if handwritten, it must be written clearly and legibly in black ink. Citations may not exceed the permitted 200 words and any found to be in excess will be declared void and will not be considered during the current Award round.
CHARACTERISTICS TO BE CONSIDERED
The Awards Committee will assess the nominee’s worthiness for an award based on the following qualities and characteristics: Value to the Corps; period of effectiveness, including long-term service; inspiration to others; dedication or determination; hardship or effort involved; teamwork demonstrated; responsibility assumed and personal costs incurred. Citations, therefore, should seek to amplify these appropriate aspects.
CONFIDENTIALITY
As with all awards of this nature, the nomination of an individual, or group of individuals, must remain confidential throughout the process and the individual(s) concerned may not be informed, by any means including inference, of their nomination. Any indication that this confidentiality has been compromised may result in the withdrawal of the nomination from the adjudication process. It is also a requirement that unsuccessful nominees may not be informed of their nomination, since they may be re-nominated on another occasion.
AWARDS COMMITTEE
The nominations for Commendations will be considered by an Awards Committee, comprising a group nominated by the Commandant General, which will then grade the entries for his final arbitration. The Commandant General’s decision will be final and no debate or correspondence will be entered into during the selection process, or following the award. Where the award of a Commendation is not viewed as justified, no Commendation will be awarded for that Award Year.
AWARD CERTIFICATION
The successful nominees will be notified of their success immediately prior to the formal presentation of their Commendations, which will normally be timed to coincide with an RAF Regiment Association event or gathering. The individual(s) or Teams will be presented with an illuminated Certificate of Commendation, and their name(s) will be recorded on a Roll of Honour in the Force Headquarters at RAF Honington, the Home of the RAF Regiment.
HANDLING
The Nomination Form must not be detached from this cover sheet. Pasted or other inserts are not allowed. The Form is to be sent to the address provided no later than 1 September 2018.