Adam Cox from Purple Foodservice Solutions with WO1 Eric Montgomery

Armed Services Award Winner 2007

2nd May 2007, 4:38pm

Sponsored by Purple Foodservice Solutions

Warrant Officer 1
Eric Montgomery
Royal Marines

Innovation and the ability to perform under pressure have been the hallmark of Warrant Officer Eric Montgomery's 22 years of service with the Royal Marines. During a recent detachment to Afghanistan he helped ensure good working relationships among food service staff, contractors and senior management were established early on and also introduced a system of in-flight meal entitlements that allowed aircrew to be fed at public expense out of normal hours while contractors were reimbursed for meals provided - something which had not previously existed. He also organised at short notice the movement of extra chefs to meet a manning shortfall and when the UK Task Force HQ Helmand Province was relocated he planned and helped carry out the feeding of an extra 750 personnel at very short notice. He also dealt with haulage contractors to ensure supplies were moved swiftly, responded to customer feedback and even personally loaded foodstuffs on to helicopters all the while mentoring Master Chefs in the use of new accounting software.