His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam represented Her Majesty the Queen at the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Friday 15 April 2011.

Commissioning Course 102 Prize Winners

The Sword of Honour, awarded to the Officer Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the course, was presented to Senior Under Officer (SUO) Thomas Lavington. 

Thomas was born in Chichester 26 years ago and grew up in West Sussex.  He went to Eastbourne College and the University of St Andrews, where he gained a MA in History of Art.  At university he was a keen charity event organiser, played 1st XI hockey, was a student radio disc jockey and wrote for the university newspaper.  During his gap year he was a ski instructor and teacher.  After university he worked in the City for the Royal Bank of Canada.

At the RMAS Thomas gained the marksman qualification, was on the committee for the Gaza Company Charity Ball and was awarded 1st XI hockey colours.  His War Studies paper was sent to the Commandant.

SUO Lavington is to be commissioned into the Scots Guards.

The Overseas Sword, awarded to the Overseas Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the intake, was presented to Senior Under Officer Benjamin Bain of the United States of America.

Benjamin, 28, was born in Heidelberg, Germany.  He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and went to the University of Georgia, where he gained a BA in Political Science and then to Georgetown, where he gained a MA in Security Studies.  He has travelled solo through Eastern Europe, the Middle East and south-east Asia.

Benjamin finished top of his class at the US Army basic training establishment at Fort Leonard Wood and was 2nd overall at the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. Before coming to the RMAS he was a Junior Fellow for non-proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and an Intern at the Pentagon concerned with detainee affairs.

The Queen's Medal, awarded to the Officer Cadet who gains the highest score in military, practical and academic subjects, was presented to Cadet Sergeant (Cdt Sgt) Duncan White.

Duncan, 26, was born in Kingston-upon-Thames and grew up in Surrey.  He went to the Ashcombe School in Dorking and then Millfield.  He gained a BA in History from Oxford Brookes and an MA in International Relations (the Middle East) from Durham University.

After university Duncan was a ski racing coach in Les Houches, France. He has represented Scotland and Great Britain in Alpine Ski-ing at junior and senior levels, was a Winter Youth Olympian in 2001 and was the British Junior Downhill Champion in 2004. Whilst in the Oxford University Royal Navy Unit, Duncan was appointed Senior Midshipman and won the Hudson Memorial Prize, which was presented by the First Sea Lord.

Cdt Sgt White is to be commissioned into the Yorkshire Regiment.