Para made MBE for 'outstanding and meritorious service'

Warrant Officer Class 1 Anthony Hobbins is the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA), and served in that role during the battalion's most recent and most arduous tour of Afghanistan in 2008.

WO1 (RSM) Hobbins has been awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List for his 'extensive, outstanding and meritorious service'.

His Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Harrison MBE, said in the citation:

"In over 20 years of military service I have never seen an RSM command such respect."

WO1 Hobbins, who lives in Colchester and is married with four children, said:

"It's difficult to put into words how pleased and proud I am. When I was told I was gobsmacked; absolutely speechless."

The award comes as he nears the end of his two-year period as RSM, itself a great achievement. In addition, WO1 Hobbins has also recently received his Queen's Commission and in April will become Captain Hobbins.

He said:

"The pinnacle was RSM for me, but the MBE just really tops it off. The last two years and the last few months in particular have been a rollercoaster, it's fantastic news for me and the family."

Lt Col Harrison said:

"I'm delighted for Mr Hobbins; this award reflects the years of hard work and dedication he has given to the soldiers of The Parachute Regiment and is a fitting tribute to a highly professional soldier."

WO1 Hobbins grew up near Bromsgrove, attending Waseley Hills High School in Rubery before he joined the Army just before he was 17:

"I always wanted to join the Army and I just wanted a challenge," he said. 

"I wanted to be the best and the Paras were the best and that's where I saw myself being."

After Para basic training at Aldershot he was posted to 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment, also in Aldershot, where he spent much of his career until 1999 when they moved to Dover.

He was then posted to Colchester with 2 PARA. His first operational tour was to Northern Ireland in 1988, where he subsequently served seven tours in total. In addition, he has also served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq (twice) and finally Afghanistan.

Of his operational record, Lt Col Harrison said:

"I think he's probably one of the most operationally experienced soldiers in the British Army - I've very rarely seen a soldier with so many medals because he's just about been everywhere and done everything."

During his career, WO1 Hobbins was also selected for the prestigious post of a Colour Sergeant (Assistant Instructor) at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

But in his own opinion the highest achievement, and biggest challenge, was becoming RSM 2 PARA:

"It's had its ups and downs but it's got to be the pinnacle of any paratrooper's career to be RSM on operations in Afghanistan. I'm sure if you asked the RSM in the Falklands he would say the same," he said.

Afghanistan in 2008 proved to be a difficult tour, at the time the most difficult and bloody tour so far in Helmand province, with the 2 PARA Battle Group, which included all the supporting troops from other units, losing 15 UK soldiers, four US servicemen, plus countless Afghan colleagues. They also had more than 70 wounded in action.

It was among WO1 Hobbins's many responsibilities as RSM to organise the repatriation of those soldiers who fell.

WO1 Hobbins said:

"Afghanistan was everything that people read about and more, and everything you want to be part of as a soldier.

"It almost pales into insignificance compared to the casualties that have happened this year but at the time it was the hardest tour to date and for me and the blokes it was bloody demanding; but it's what we joined The Parachute Regiment for.

"It was definitely the hardest and most demanding thing I've done in my time."

As Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 Hobbins is the senior soldier within the battalion, acting both as an authority figure and an inspirational one:

"My role is the right-hand man of the Commanding Officer; wherever he goes I command that team, allowing him to get on and conduct the battle.

"We were spread across many locations so I had to be here, there and everywhere; as we took casualties we needed a figurehead to be there."

Despite this seniority, his citation makes clear that 'time and again Mr Hobbins risked his life to fight alongside his soldiers'.

On one occasion he was travelling in a helicopter that was shot at by a wave of rocket-propelled grenades. He later saw a photograph published when the RAF pilots were put forward for an award, and saw the aircraft had been 'peppered' by shrapnel.

As regards another occasion, his citation read: "WO1 Hobbins took the gun of a wounded colleague and, without hesitation, took the fight to the enemy."

"Any man would have done that," said WO1 Hobbins.

His citation also reads: "During the most arduous of tours, his good humour was unflinching, his paternal touch a comfort, and his bravery unstinting."

But the married father of four is well aware of his responsibilities at home, and sometimes his absence from them:

"My wife probably deserves the MBE more than me!" he said.

WO1 Hobbins has been married to Deborah since 1992, and among his four children is the next generation of Hobbins paratroopers. His son Mark joined the Army last year with ambitions to join the Paras like his father:

"I'm really proud, it was a special moment for any parent, probably more so because I'm in the Army," said WO1 Hobbins.

"Although I understand the pressures he must be under, me being RSM. I'm sure when he gets into the regiment there'll be some worrying when he goes to Afghanistan but that's where he wants to be and that's where he wants to go."