An Army officer serving with the Royal Corps of Signals in the South West of England has been made a Member of The Order of The British Empire (MBE) for her work during the COVID pandemic.
Major Emma Allen MBE, has been recognised for her initiative and exemplary contribution as a volunteer during these unprecedented times, supporting the community in a time of national crisis.
Major Allen has been working as a volunteer military Co Responder for South Central Ambulance Service for just over 2 years providing critical emergency response care. She deployed to the Emergency Operations Centre in Otterbourne, co-located with the SACS Silver and Gold cells providing advice, support and resources to reinforce their departments.
This has been one of the most challenging years in my military career and I am proud to have been part of the South Central Ambulance Service Military Co Responder team Major Emma Allen MBE
Emma who has served for 14 years, commands an Armoured Signal Squadron of 92 service personnel from their barracks in Bulford, and recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan.
She said of the award:
“This has been one of the most challenging years in my military career and I am proud to have been part of the South Central Ambulance Service Military Co Responder team. I am delighted and humbled to have been awarded this amazing honour but it would not have been possible without the support of my husband Major James Allen RA, who was critical in the planning, generation and sustainment of the team.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to every single member of the Co Responder Team and South Central Ambulance Service who have worked together through some extremely challenging times. I would like to accept this honour on behalf of the whole team who have and will continue to work tirelessly supporting the public in a time of need.”
Her citation states: “As the enormity of the COVID-19 crisis began to emerge, she identified that, with minimal upskilling, military co-responders would be able to provide an invaluable enhancement to SCAS. Having established her team, she assumed the role of commander and military liaison officer in the SCAS Headquarters.”