Dunedin soldier wins Governor General's medal

Second Lieutenant Jimmy McEwan won the Governor General’s Medal for the Officer Cadet who gained the highest combined marks in all subjects, the Sergeant Major of the Army’s prize for best performance across all aspects of field training and the Australian Chief of Army’s prize for tactics. 

Born on Auckland’s North Shore but raised in Dunedin from the age of four, Second Lieutenant McEwan joined the Army Reserves while he was at university studying for his Bachelor of Commerce degree.

“I always wanted to be a soldier but I also wanted to go to university. It wasn’t until my second year that I realised I could do both by studying during the week and being in the Reserves on weekends. My Dad is a serving member of the Army Reserves and encouraged me to give it a go,“ said Second Lieutenant McEwan.

After graduation he worked in a marketing and sales role and remained a reservist, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant and stepping into a Platoon Commander role after completing the Territorial Force Commissioning Course. 

It was this experience of leading troops that prompted Second Lieutenant McEwan to leave his marketing job and want to be an Officer in the Army full time. 

Early next year Second Lieutenant McEwan will be on the Infantry Platoon Commanders course and then will be based at 1^st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. He said he was looking forward to working hard in a prestigious combat unit and becoming a part of its rich culture.

“I love being a soldier and leading others so this is a perfect fit for me. You’re surrounded by high performing passionate people that all want to be there, so to receive these two awards is incredibly humbling,” said Second Lieutenant McEwan.

He said one of the best experiences he had as a cadet was travelling to Fiji.

“Tactically the exercises in Fiji were valuable. The jungle was similar to what I’d experienced in New Zealand but very hot, which brought its own challenges. Learning the differences in tactics between Kiwi soldiers and Fijian soldiers will help in future exercises or deployments when we’re working alongside each other.”

Jimmy said the Fijian people were extremely warm and welcoming and is an experience he won’t ever forget.