Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston presented the sword to TMW at a ceremony held at RAF Brize Norton. The award recognizes the peacekeeping deployment of 25 RAF and four Army healthcare personnel to a hospital in South Sudan by the United Nations in 2018.

The Defence Medical Service Medics and Allied Health Professionals were drawn from nine different RAF Units and were deployed under TMW.

Wing Commander Jo Bland, Officer Commanding of the TMW, said: “The Firmin Sword of Peace is an award given to units of the UK Armed Forces for activities above and beyond their normal role that improves relations with the community. The UK R2 facility provided medical healthcare treatment to 1,800 UN military personnel, civil servants, contractors and other charity workers based within the compound in Bentiu. The R2 was able to stabilize ill or injured UN personnel and conduct damage control surgery in the event of traumatic injuries prior to Aeromedical Evacuation if required. I am enormously proud of their achievements and I feel that TMW are truly honored to receive the Firmin Sword of Peace.”

Squadron Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Officer Commanding at Role Two Hospital, said: “It was a privilege to lead such an exemplary team to South Sudan, providing the first RAF led R2 Hospital in over 27 years. Receiving this award, alongside a 3-star Team Commendation from Deputy Commander of Operations, is an honor and reflects both the intensity of effort applied and skilled professionalism employed by all those who supported this venture.”