and Head of the Army in Wales, Brigadier Martyn Gamble
An Army reservist from Blackwood has been recognised at the inaugural Armed Forces in Wales Awards for his committed service in uniform.
Staff Sergeant Alan Jeffries won the Armed Forces Award for overall achievement at the dinner event held at the Cardiff City Stadium.
First Minister Carwyn Jones presented Mr Jefferies with his award.
As a Combat Medical Technician with The 3rd Battalion the Royal Welsh, Sgt Jefferies is said to have played a key role in revolutionising the delivery of occupational health to Army Reservists in Wales.
He said: “I’ve received the Armed Forces in Wales Award for providing and leading the Occupational Health team in Wales and at one stage, into the West Midlands. I provided clinics for Reservists for all their occupational health needs and also organised various other specialist medicals.
“It was an honour to be nominated. I didn’t even know what I was being nominated for and to win was unbelievable.
“I’m very happy. My message to anyone else is to enjoy your job, just get on with it and hopefully people will spot what you do like they did with me.”
Without a commercial provider of occupational health in Wales, there were no out-sourcing options.
Sgt Jefferies built a team of dedicated clinicians to ensure that Reservists were reviewed by clinicians with knowledge of Army medical employment classifications and Wales is now seen as the exemplar nationwide.
Also recognised at the awards was Major Bobby Grey, who received the Armed Forces in Wales Youth and Cadets Award for his volunteer work with Army cadets in Rhondda Cynon Taf.