A Wauchope soldier has been awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.
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Warrant Officer Class Two Michael James Carroll won the award for meritorious achievement as the Company Sergeant Major of the Ready Combat Team, and Operations Warrant Officer of the Ready Battalion Group, 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
Michael is currently fulfilling a life-long dream of working with the US Marine Corps at its Air-Ground Task Force Combat Centre in California.
By his side is his proud wife Nicole and their three sons, Harrison (15), Saxon (12) and Jedidiah (5). Michael is the eldest son of well-known Wauchope locals, Leslie and Ian Carroll.
His long-term goal is to be a warrant office class one and gain an appointment into a reserve infantry battalion as a regimental sergeant major. Michael’s distinguished career includes five years in the Royal Australian Navy before transferring to the Australian Army in 1997.
He joined the Navy the day after he turned 17, so a career in the defence forces has always been in his blood. His many awards include the Infantry Combat Badge and Service Medals for war-like and non-warlike service.
He has also been recognised for his commitment to the army through the awarding of two Soldier’s Medallions for Exemplary Service, an Australia Day 2005 award, a Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Bronze Commendation and an Army Silver Commendation.
In 2010, he was promoted to warrant officer class two and was appointed the section sergeant major of the urban operations team, which he says was a career highlight.
The following year, he was deployed as the team sergeant major of reconnaissance, surveillance and sniping - operational mentoring liaison team as part of a mentoring task force in Afghanistan. He has also seen active service with three tours in East Timor between 1999 and 2008.