Jake Alpert
Jake Alpert | |
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Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1988–present |
Rank | Warrant Officer |
Commands held | Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force |
Battles/wars | The Troubles Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire |
Warrant Officer Jake Alpert, MBE is a senior warrant officer in the Royal Air Force serving as Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force since 2019. Therefore, he is the most senior non-commissioned officer in the RAF.[1]
Military career[]
Alpert joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1988. He completed his first tour while with No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Hullavington. Upon completion of the Pre-Parachute Selection Course and the Basic Parachute course, he went on his first operational tour to Northern Ireland. He then moved to No. II Squadron RAF Regiment serving with them for 11 years at multiple bases and took on further operational tours.[1]
In 2001, he was posted to the RAF Force Protection (FP) Centre on promotion to sergeant. He then completed the All Arms Commando Course and was subsequently awarded the Commandants' Certificate in 2004. He was then assigned to 45 Commando Royal Marines as the troop sergeant. He completed two tours with the Royal Marines during that time.[1]
In 2008, Alpert was promoted to flight sergeant and rejoined No. II Squadron. He was subsequently deployed back to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick IX as an Intelligence Surveillance Recognition Manager. He was promoted to warrant officer in 2010 and served as the Station Warrant Officer (SWO) at RAF Shawbury and served as OC FP Training Flight. In 2011, he returned to II Squadron as the Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM) of Camp Bastion.[1]
In 2013, he once again returned to Afghanistan as garrison sergeant major of Kandahar Air Field. In 2015, Alpert was selected for the RAF's Executive Warrant Officer employment program, while serving as the station warrant officer at RAF Halton. He received the Meritorious Service Medal for his services.[1]
In 2017, Alpert was appointed Command Senior Enlisted Leader of Allied Air Command and completed several command courses. In October 2019, he was appointed to his current role of Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force.[2] Though when first appointed the position was known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer.[1]
Honours and decorations[]
In 2016, during his time at RAF Halton Alpert was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The medal is awarded for "meritorious service by those military members who are of irreproachable character with at least 20 years of service and already hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal of their service".[3] In 2019, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.[4]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f "Warrant Office of the Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. www.RAF.mod.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Thank you WO Jon Crossley. A brilliant 3 years as Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer. Welcome WO Jake Alpert". Michael Wigston. www.twitter.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility". GOV UK. gov.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Order of the British Empire". The London Gazette. thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- Living people
- Royal Air Force airmen
- Warrant Officers of the Royal Air Force
- British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
- Royal Air Force personnel of the Iraq War
- Royal Air Force personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)
- Members of the Order of the British Empire