A CINDERFORD man has won the race to become the top warrant officer in the RAF Air Cadets.

Clinton Marsh, aged 44, won the title of Commandant's Warrant Officer in a fiercely fought competition amongst some of the best warrant officers in the national voluntary youth organisation.

And picking up the baton means he is now a personal advisor to Commandant Air Cadets Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty.

Clinton will now lead the warrant officer (WO) and senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) cadre – a hugely prestigious post in an organisation which has 45,000 air cadets and 10,000 volunteer staff.

To win selection, WO Marsh had to impress a panel comprising Commandant, WO Mansfield ATC (Ret), a former Commandant's Warrant Officer, and WO Spark RAF, the chief of the air staff's personal warrant officer.

Asked to present on how the warrant officer and non-commissioned officer cadre of the ACO could contribute to delivery of the RAF Air Cadet's 2020 Strategy, WO Marsh impressed with his passion and enthusiasm.

Air Commodore McCafferty said: "I have no doubt that WO Marsh has all the personal and professional attributes to make an outstanding contribution in this prestigious role. I very much look forward to working with him over the coming years and know he will do his utmost to represent the SNCOs and WOs, whilst maintaining a strong focus on the cadets we support."

WO Marsh said: "I feel incredibly honoured to have been given this opportunity and I am delighted to have the chance to take forward many of the plans and aspirations initiated by predecessors.

"I have big boots to fill but I will do my very best to support the Commandant and to ensure I represent the cadre as we move towards 2020."

WO Marsh, who will take up post on March 1, will replace the much-loved and highly-regarded WO Gaz Tonks who has had to resign prematurely from the post due to ill-health. However, WO Tonks will continue to contribute to the ACO at the strategic level as he has been appointed as the WO on the 2016 Planning Team, which will coordinate plans to mark the ATC's 75th anniversary that year.

WO Tonks added: "While sad to hand over this key role so early in my tenure, I know I have made the right decision and I am confident that WO Marsh will carry on where WO Mansfield and I have left off. There is much to be done and, while I can no longer commit to the role myself, I am really excited about my new position, helping to shape plans for the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary."

WO Marsh will soon be making plans for his first few months in post and you can expect to see him around the ACO and the wider RAF, representing cadets and volunteers and informing some of the many strategic decisions that will be made over the coming years.