Royal Naval Reserve media specialist receives medal

Royal Naval Reservist Commander Sue Eagles was presented with the Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) by The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace this week.

She was awarded the QVRM in the News Year's Honours in January 2008 in recognition of her consummate professionalism and outstanding contribution during her service as the NATO Media Spokesman in Afghanistan and throughout her long and distinguished career as a Media Operations Specialist.

Commander Eagles who has been on full time Reserve Service with NATO for the past five years described her job as:

"Hugely rewarding, immensely varied and challenging. The conditions in Afghanistan are hazardous and working with the media is always fast paced. You are always under pressure, particularly in an international operation with so many different nationalities and agencies working together."

On receiving her medal she said:

"Receiving my award from HRH The Prince of Wales was a great honour. He asked me about my experience in Afghanistan and we spoke about Prince Harry's great disappointment about coming home early. It was a very special day."

In 1984, Commander Eagles was instrumental in setting up and running the Royal Naval Reserve Public Affairs Branch, a cadre of media specialists highly trained to operate with the media in war zones. She was Commanding Officer of the Branch from 1991-1996, playing a fundamental and instrumental role in the development, training and deployment of the Branch in the Gulf War and Bosnia.

Her medal citation said:

"Throughout her service in the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve Sue's exemplary performance has done much to raise and enhance the external profile and reputation of the Royal Navy delivering a lasting effect in the way joint and combined operations now conduct the Information War."

As Chief Public Information Officer for NATO's Maritime Component Command she deployed to Afghanistan on two operational tours in 2004 and 2006. Commanding Officer of the NATO Operation, General Mauro Del Vecchio said:

"Sue demonstrated an excellent grasp of the strategic complexities of the operation, maintaining the complete trust of the media and the chain of command under extreme pressure and in harsh conditions. Sue made a real impact very quickly, overhauling work practices, accompanying TV and media crews to some of the most remote provinces in the country and bringing a vibrancy and dynamism to the press briefings and news conferences.

"Her outstanding professionalism, in depth knowledge and approachable honest nature made her a significant force multiplier. Her contribution to the operation was outstanding."