RAF Honington liaison officer recognized for community relations

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A liaison officer stationed at nearby RAF Honington was recently recognized by the 100th Air Refueling Wing commander for his efforts in enhancing the relationship between the United States and Great Britain.

Maj. Matthew Gibson was presented the British-American Council's community relations award Sept. 24, 2011, at a ceremony by Col. Christopher Kulas.

The award is given to individuals or groups, either American or British, on or off-base, who have enhanced the relationship shared between the two nations.

"Gibson has connected RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Alconbury military community to the British regiment by inviting personnel to participate in Joint Defense Operations Center exercises," said Kimberly Dickman, 100th ARW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response coordinator, in her submission letter. "This has resulted in stronger understanding, cooperation and military operations."

In addition to building stronger partnerships with local military communities, Gibson went a step further to promote his understanding of British military operations.

"Gibson volunteered to deploy to Operation Herrick, the U.K.'s campaign in Afghanistan, to gain real-world and real-time knowledge of what is happening on the ground to bring back to better prepare troops for their next deployment," said Dickman.

Not only has Gibson deployed with the British, he has even earned his British army parachute badge with wings. To earn this distinction, Gibson had to complete eight descents including one nighttime descent.

Additionally, Gibson was selected to attend three U.K. military courses, including the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems course; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Combat Recovery course; and the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Counter Sabotage Operational Resiliency course.

The B-AC's awards run continually throughout the year and anyone can nominate someone they feel has really made a difference.

The five award categories are: U.K. individual (or couple); U.S. Individual (or couple); U.K. group; U.S. group; or young person (under 18).

To nominate someone, submit a statement of their contribution to enhance British-American community relations and any background information tosal.davidson@mildenhall.af.mil. Submissions will then be presented at the bi-monthly B-AC meetings for consideration, and successful applicants will be presented with a specially designed coin.