User:Tompadgett1989/Stephen Padgett

Stephen Padgett (British Army officer)

Stephen Padgett
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1980-Present
RankColonel
Commands held1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own, Commander British Forces Afghanistan
Battles/warsNorthern Ireland, Afghanistan
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire

Colonel Stephen Padgett OBE[1] (born October 1960) is an officer in the British Army. He is best known for his role as COMBRITFOR (Commander British Forces) in Afghanistan in 2005.

Early life

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Padgett was born and raised in Gomersal, West Yorkshire. He attended Batley Grammar School before he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Career

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Following training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Padgett's permanent commission in the PWO as a second lieutenant was confirmed on 12 April 1980.[2]. He was promoted lieutenant on 12 April 1982,[3], captain on 12 October 1986,[4], and major on 30 September 1992.[5]. Padgett was promoted lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1999.[6]. he took over command of the 1st Battalion, PWO in May 2001 as the regiment moved to Omagh, Co. Tyrone [7]. On 23 April 2004 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service in Northern Ireland between April and September 2003[1][7] as CO of 1PWO, during which time the regiment recovered its full manpower and boasted one of the highest personnel retention rates in the British Army[7]. His next appointment was as Chief of Staff at Headquarters United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) (HQUKSC(G))[7]. In 2005, as an acting colonel, Padgett took over the role of Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan. In the course of this appointment, Padgett took a leading role in efforts to curb the illicit Afghan opium trade[8], and also in the encouragement of Afghan civilians to vote in the democratic elections that were taking place at the time. He led his team of Gurkhas on a three day patrol into the isolated regions of the Hindu Kush in order to spread the message[8][9]. He formally attained the rank of colonel on 30 June 2006.[10].

References

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  1. ^ a b "No. 57269". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 22 April 2004.
  2. ^ "No. 48229". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 23 June 1980.
  3. ^ "No. 18964". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 27 April 1982.
  4. ^ "No. 50690". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 21 October 1986.
  5. ^ "No. 53068". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 6 October 1992.
  6. ^ "No. 55543". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 6 July 1999.
  7. ^ a b c d "Spen soldier's OBE honour". Spenborough Guardian. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  8. ^ a b "British troops Sent to Stop Al-Qaeda's Drug Funds". The Guardian. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Voters Who Snubbed Warlords". The Mirror. 19 September 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  10. ^ "No. 58036". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 4 July 2006.
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