A part-time soldier from Wigan has been awarded the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal (VRSM) for over ten years’ honourable and exemplary service to the Reserve Forces.
Col John Green with daughter Aimee and parents Allan and Linda Green
Corporal John Green, aged 44, is an Army Reservist with Wigan-based B Squadron Queen’s Own Yeomanry, one of the Army’s Reservist light reconnaissance units. John was presented with the medal by the Regiment’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Julian Smith during a ceremony at Wigan Army Reserve Centre.
John originally joined the Army in 1995, enlisting with 13 Company 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He served for five years before leaving in 2000 to pursue a civilian career. After starting his own successful business, Greenforce Gardening and Sports Field Maintenance, John made the decision to join the Army Reserve in 2006. During his time as a Reservist with B Squadron, John has been mobilised and deployed to Afghanistan three times, in 2008, 2010 and 2012. In recent years he has completed qualifications as driver on the RWMIK light reconnaissance vehicle, Military Annual Training Test (MATT) 3 instructor, Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear defence instructor and Range Marshal.
Lt Col Julian Smith, CO Queen’s Own Yeomanry, said: “Corporal Green is a reliable Junior Non-Commissioned Officer who is well respected by his peers and superiors alike. He has been an outstanding member of B Squadron Queen’s Own Yeomanry, and is always fully committed to everything and anything that takes place.”
The VRSM is a medal awarded to all members of the Reserve Forces of all three Services for exemplary and efficient service to the Crown and the country.
The Queen’s Own Yeomanry (QOY) is one of the Army Reserve’s light armoured reconnaissance regiments. The regiment has squadrons in Newcastle, York, Wigan and Chester. To find out how you could get involved, visit www.army.mod.uk/armoured/regiments/26881.aspx
