Corporal who embodies Corps' values named Royal Marine of the Year

A Royal Marine Commando serving with 353 Troop Training Team has received the 2023 Royal Marine of the Year award for embodying what it means to serve in the Corps.

Corporal Jack Crawford was given the award by the Commandant General of the Royal Marines, General Gwyn Jenkins, at the Ministry of Defence's HQ in London.

Cpl Crawford and his wife Isobel, who live in Plymouth, met the Commandant General and the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major in the MOD's Main Building, where he was presented with his citation.

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Cpl Crawford said he did "not feel worthy" of the accolade, saying there were many others more deserving of it.

As part of his award, Cpl Crawford won a Bremont Royal Marines watch and will have a preferential draft in his next assignment.

Cpl Crawford serves at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone and has been a Royal Marine for 10 years.

He is said to have "epitomised the Corps' values of excellence, integrity, self-discipline and humility" after producing the Combat Communicators course for both Commando Duties Marines and Landing Craftsmen in 47 Commando.

Cpl Crawford is also said to volunteer at every opportunity, maximising his experience in the Royal Marines.

He recently took part in a ski march that finished at the Matterhorn in Switzerland and finished second in joint United States Marine Corps/Royal Marines shooting competition.

During this year's Normandy Commemorations, Cpl Crawford was used as the interpreter on 47 Commando's visit to Port-en-Bessin and, in perfect French, fluently translated all VIP speeches to a majority French audience throughout the five-day trip.

Cpl Crawford also competes for Great Britain in individual precision rifle shooting and is the chairman of the sport, organising GB individual precision shooting events.

He is also in the process of establishing the sport as a recognised discipline within the Royal Marines.

The Royal Marines of the Year award was set up in 2020 to recognise the exceptional work of one Royal Marine who has shone in the past year and most personifies what it means to be a Commando.