Soldier of the Year announced

The Soldier of the Year (SOTY) Award is presented annually to recognise our soldiers and officers who pursue the journey of excellence, demonstrate professional and domain expertise, and who display the core characteristics of the New Zealand Army soldier.
 
Sergeant (SGT) Colton is currently posted as an instructor within the Deployable Health Organisation Training Wing and is tasked with providing medical skills training in order to generate competent and deployable personnel across the NZ Army. SGT Colton has shown constant and unwavering devotion to delivering a superior performance in his role as an instructor and furthering the medic trade.
 
He has been tireless in his dedication to delivering high quality training across the spectrum of NZ Army outputs. He has protected the force by training personnel deploying on Operation Protect, delivered Tactical Trauma Care, First Aid training at The Army Depot and high level medical training to health professionals across all three services.
 
SGT Colton has also been instrumental in the delivery of the new Defence Medical Treatment Protocols. In his advisory role for the DMTP he supervised and coached his fellow medics to achieve annual competency requirements. This required significant investment in personal time. His commitment to achieve the mission set before him and refusal to retreat in the face of challenges has been an example to everyone in the Deployable Health Organisation.
 
For his service, SGT Colton has been awarded a CDF commendation, RNZAMC Soldier of the Year, runner up DHO Person of the Year and promoted to acting Sergeant. He was also selected as the medic and flag orderly for the Anzac ceremonies in Gallipoli, Turkey.
 
SGT Colton has provided superior service to his comrades, unit, and the NZ Army through tireless effort across all aspects of his trade. Commitment is his greatest strength, his dedication to the NZ Army is unwavering. His work benefits not only the NZ Army but all of the NZDF. He truly embodies the modern warrior ethos and NZ Army values of  Tū Kaha – Courage, Tū Tira – Comradeship, Tū Tika – Commitment and Tū Maia – Integrity.
 
Congratulations Jack on your outstanding achievements.