Long service medals for local soldiers

Lieutenant Colonel Ivor Lopez, the Commanding Officer of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, recently presented seven local soldiers with their Long Service and Good Conduct Medals at a ceremony in Grand Battery House.

The Long Service and Good Conduct (LS AND GC) Medal is awarded to personnel who have demonstrated 15 years of exemplary and irreproachable conduct.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Patrick Canepa joined the Regiment as an Infantryman in February 2000. He successfully completed the Junior Non Commissioned Officers Cadre (JNCO) in 2003 and was promoted to Lance Corporal (LCpl).

In 2006 he attended and passed the demanding Section Commanders’ Battle Course (SCBC) and was subsequently promoted to Corporal (Cpl).

In 2008 he was promoted to Sergeant (Sgt) and took on the role of Platoon Sergeant. WO2 Canepa deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 where he was employed as the Second in Command of a Training Advisory Team.

Throughout his career he has deployed to Cyprus, the Gambia, Morocco and the UK. He was promoted to WO2 in 2014 and is currently the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) HQ Company.

WO2 Keith Dellipiani joined the RGR in January 2000 as an Infantryman. He was promoted to LCpl in 2004 and after successfully completing the SCBC he was promoted to Cpl in 2007.

In July 2009 WO2 Dellipiani attended a Platoon Sergeants’ Battle Course (PSBC) where he was awarded a ‘Distinction’ grade which led to his promotion to Sgt. In 2011 he deployed to Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Infantry Branch School in Kabul.

As well as supervising and advising the ANA Heavy Weapons Instructors, WO2 Dellipiani also worked in the Literacy Team helping to bring professional development to the ANA Instructors. WO2 Dellipiani has deployed to the Gambia on several occasions as one of the Senior Instructors in the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT).

He was promoted to WO2 in November this year and is currently the Training Wing Warrant Officer.

WO2 Lance Mauro enlisted into the Regiment In August 2000, following basic training he took on the role of Section Rifleman. He was promoted to LCpl in 2004 and in 2007 he attended and passed an SCBC which led to his promotion to Cpl.

In 2009 WO2 Mauro was placed in the top third of his PSBC and awarded a Distinction. This led to his promotion to Sgt and he took on the role of Platoon Sergeant.

WO2 Mauro has deployed on numerous UK and Morocco exercises and in 2005 he deployed to Northern Ireland where he was attached to 2 Royal Anglians. In 2008 he deployed to Iraq on Op Telic 12 with the 1^st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. In 2011 he was given the opportunity to retrade and following extensive training, WO2 Mauro formed part of the initial four man team within the newly formed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team. Further specialist EOD Course have led to his current position of WO2 within the EOD Team.

CSgt Andrew Perez joined the Royal Gibraltar Regiment in 2000 as an Infantryman. He was promoted to LCpl in 2004 after successfully completing the JNCO Cadre. In 2007 he passed the SCBC and was promoted to Cpl.

In 2011 he retraded and became part of the newly formed RG EOD Team. He successfully completed the Defence EOD No2 Operator Course and in 2012 he attended the No1 Operators Couse which led to his promotion to Sgt in 2013.

A keen sportsman, CSgt Perez has represented the Regiment at Army championship level in both Rowing and Hockey. In 2003 CSgt Perez deployed to Northern Ireland and in 2005 he deployed to Iraq on Op Telic where he was attached to 1 Scotts Guards. CSgt Perez has also deployed on a number of UK and Moroccan Exercises throughout his career.

CSgt Jonathan Sardena initially joined the Regiment in 1990 after completing his Basic Training at the School of Artillery in Woolwich. Although he decided to leave service after a couple of years he re-joined the Regiment in 2000 and became the GPMG Gunner within the Infantry Rifle Company.

He attended his JNCO’s Cadre in 2003 and moved to the Light Aid Detachment (LAD) to become a Class 3 Vehicle Mechanic as a LCpl. He was promoted to Cpl in 2006 and in 2007 he completed a nine month Class 1 Vehicle Mechanic Course.

CSgt Sardena has deployed on a number of overseas exercises including Canada, Cyprus, Gambia, Morocco and the UK. He was part of the Ceremonial duties at the Tower of London in 2001 and the Edinburgh Gun Salute in 2011.He was promoted to CSgt in 2014 and became IC LAD, his role changed this year to establish an MT Training Cell and he is now the MT Training SNCO.

Sgt Ethaniel Mor joined the Royal Gibraltar Regiment in May 1997 as an infantryman. In 2003 he took on the role of Section 2IC within G Company after successfully completing his JNCO’s Cadre.

He then went on to complete sniper training and became a sharp shooter. In 2010 he become the Regiments Ammunition Storeman and was promoted to Cpl. In May 2013 he was promoted to Sgt and assumed the position of Europa Pool Manager. The position gave him valuable experience in dealing with staff and the general public and he developed numerous Lifeguards by organising Royal Life Saving Society Lifeguard and Training Assistant Assessor Courses.

Sgt Mor has deployed overseas to Canada, Cyprus, Gambia, Kenya, Morocco, Northern Ireland and the UK. He is currently the Regimental Provost Sergeant.

Sgt Andrew Robertson joined the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Volunteer Reserves in 1999 and decided to become a Regular in February 2000. In 2006 he was offered the opportunity to become a Vehicle Mechanic (VM), following his Basic VM Course he moved in the LAD. In 2007 he completed his Class 2 VM Couse and then continued on to qualify as a Class 1 VM in 2010 when he was promoted to Cpl. Sgt Robertson went on to attend a number of career coursed within the LAD Department and was promoted to Sgt in June 2014.

Throughout his career Sgt Robertson has deployed to the USA on exercise and was attached to the Bermuda Regiment. He has also deployed on numerous UK and Morocco Exercises as well as deploying to the Gambia. He is currently the IC LAD.