Many years ago I attended a CAS Commendation ceremony, there were about 10 recipients. I can’t remember each in detail but amongst those awarded were: a pair who were 1st on the scene on a serious RTC prioritised the casualties, gave first aid, organised others to control traffic and generally managed the scene until ambulance/trumpton/police arrived; a Sqn Ldr VRT with 50+ years service at Sqn, Wing & HQ levels; and a WO Mess Manager who’d organised a Summer Ball in the WO&Sgts’ Mess.
Seems like in order: well deserved, a little low but still deserved, sounds like just doing their job (guess it must have been a phenomenal evening in the OAP’s Mess!)
The decision making can appear unbalanced, I’m told that Cadet Forces are each limited to 1 MBE per list usually for Wg Cdr or equivalent, sometimes it’s just a case of right time right place or maybe who writes the citation…it’s a subjective system