Warrant Officer Andrew Bailey joined the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1973 and retired after a little under 23 years in 1996. During this period he served in Germany, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kenya, Canada, Norway the UK. Following a short period out of uniform he enlisted in the RAuxAF in 1997, joining the newly formed Helicopter Support Sqn (now 606 sqn) at RAF Benson as a Sgt Supplier.
Following a recruit course and trade training he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and was appointed Sqn WO in 1999. During his time as Sqn WO he also held the appointment as Station WO RAF Benson for 4 months in 2001. On return to the Sqn he was immediately mobilised for 4 months as the first Deployed Operating Base WO at Seeb in Oman for OP VERITAS.
Returning to 606 Sqn he was once again mobilised to Joint Helicopter Force (IRAQ) as Force WO and J4 WO for Op Telic 2. Following a short period back with 606 Sqn, during which time he trained as a Mobile Air Operations Team Leader (MAOT), he deployed to Belize with 230 Sqn in support of an Infantry Battle Group on pre deployment training. Shortly after his return from this deployment he was mobilised once again to serve as the MAOT on OP Herrick 6 and 7 in Helmand for 8 months.
On returning to UK he left 606 Sqn in 2008 and took up a post as MAOT on FTRS terms of service. During his 3 year tour as a full time MAOT he has deployed to Morocco, Iraq, The Falklands, USA, Afghanistan, Jordan and Germany as well as conducting numerous exercises with Infantry Battle Groups on their pre-deployment training.
WO Bailey was awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserve Medal in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List. On completion of his FTRS MAOT contract WO Bailey assumed the appointment of Command WO (Res) on 1st June 2011.
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