After three days of intense training in harsh conditions – including helicopter drills, bridging drills and cold weather training – they now form a tight-knit, well-prepared and combat-ready multinational brigade of 2,500 personnel.

Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster said:

Whether it’s from the seas, the skies or on land, Exercise Trident Juncture will demonstrate the crucial contribution our Armed Forces make to NATO – an alliance which is the cornerstone of European security and stability in an increasingly unpredictable era.

From the skies, the UK is contributing four Hawk aircraft which touched down in Norway last week and in the surrounding seas HMS Cattistock, HMS Enterprise and two Type-23s – HMS Westminster and HMS Northumberland – will support the exercise as part of multinational task groups.

A total of 150 aircraft, 40,000 participants and 10,000 vehicles makes Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 NATO’s largest collective defence exercise in over a decade and will test the alliance in an article 5 scenario – when an attack on one is an attack on all.

Later this week they will all contribute to the Live Exercise. The British-led Multinational Brigade will face the challenging task of countering an advancing enemy, a role played by crack troops from Norway and Germany who are familiar with the terrain and environment.

General Sir Chris Deverell, Commander JFC, presented the awards to recipients, who were joined by family members and colleagues at the ceremony. Welcoming the recipients, General Deverell said:

The work carried out by Joint Forces Command is only made possible by its staff. Today we are able to recognise the work of individuals in the JFC workforce who have made an extraordinary contribution to JFC’s success, and it is important that we do so.

Being able to recognise these achievements is one of the favourite parts of my role as Commander JFC. The staff here today should be incredibly proud of what they have done, and I hope the realise they stand as a leading example to their colleagues in JFC and across UK defence.

Commendations were awarded to individuals from across JFC in recognition for their work and achievements. These commendations recognise support to ongoing operations and activities, engagement with the local community, and individual acts of courage in the line of duty.

After receiving his award Lt Col Lamb said:

It is always great to be recognised. We all work hard, and if you do get recognised then that is fantastic.

Mr Ballard, a civil servant shared:

I’m absolutely touched and honoured, it’s amazing to be recognised. The recognition for me personally is a wonderful feeling, but the people who should really be here as well are my wife and children and my great team at BFBS.

The Commander JFC Commendations can be awarded to service personnel, civil servants and contracted staff from across the organisation. Those awarded the Commander Joint Forces Command Commendations are:

• Dr Katrina Frost
• Mr Trevor McMaster
• Lt Helen Stevenson, Royal Navy
• WO1 Paul Bawden, Corps of Royal Engineers
• Cdr Ian Kennedy, Royal Navy
• Sqn Ldr Christopher Gardner Royal Air Force
• Mrs Val Rooney
• Mrs Carol Thrussell
• Mr Christopher Richards
• Mrs Rachel Norris
• WO1 Colin Suffield, Royal Army Physical Training Corps
• Maj Anthony Kriehn, Corps of Royal Engineers
• Lt Col Shaun Lamb, Royal Regiment of Artillery
• Mr Paul Meiklejohn
• Mr Robert Sendall
• Miss Rosie Allum
• SAC Alan Manison, Royal Air Force
• Mrs Diane Dalton
• Mr Anthony Ballard, BFBS Cyprus
• Ms Jenny Buttolph,

The historic day was marked at a land power demonstration on Salisbury Plain, involving some of the first women to join the Royal Armoured Corps.

Mr Williamson announced that as of today, women already serving in the Army are able to transfer into infantry roles. Those not currently serving will be able to apply for infantry roles in December of this year, with new recruits starting basic training in April 2019.

The Defence Secretary also confirmed that women are now able to apply to join the Royal Marines, with selection starting before the end of this year. Training courses will begin at Royal Marines Commando training centre in Lympstone in early 2019.

Speaking at the demonstration event, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson praised the day as a defining moment in the history of the armed forces.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Women have led the way with exemplary service in the armed forces for over 100 years, working in a variety of specialist and vital roles.

So I am delighted that from today, for the first time in its history, our armed forces will be determined by ability alone and not gender.

Opening all combat roles to women will not only make the armed forces a more modern employer but will ensure we recruit the right person for the right role.

While women have for many years given exemplary service, including in combat facing roles, females were unable to serve in ground close combat roles until the ban was lifted by the then Prime Minister in 2016.

The Royal Armoured Corps was the first ground close combat branch to open its doors (in November 2016) to female soldiers and officers, followed by the RAF Regiment in September 2017.

Since November 2016 the Army has around 35 women either serving or being trained to join the Royal Armoured Corps, with a number of personnel already being deployed in their new role to Estonia and Oman.

While the military does not necessarily expect large numbers of women to apply for ground close combat roles, the changes are aimed at creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and making the most of their talents. By making all branches and trades of the military open to everyone, regardless of their gender, the armed forces are building on their reputation of being a leading equal opportunities employer.