No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron (3MCS) based at Royal Air Force Wittering in Cambridgeshire has appointed its first female Squadron Warrant Officer.
An RAF Chef for twenty-seven years, Warrant Officer Maxine Booth returns to 3MCS after a successful tour at Air Command as the Command Catering Warrant Officer. She said: “It was an extremely busy role, especially with the addition of the pandemic. The job covered everything from being Air Command’s expert on all catering matters and liaising with other Front-Line Commands and Industry Partners.”
Image By: SAC Kimberley Waterson
Warrant Officer Booth has served in Italy, Croatia, the Falklands, and the Middle East. Most recently she spent five months in the North West of England as part of the coronavirus vaccination task force. Maxine has received commendations for her commitment to deployed Ops, in particular for feeding 500 Saudi personnel on Exercise Green Flag, and for her support to youth engagement.
Her appointment as the Squadron Warrant Officer is not the only first for Warrant Officer Booth. She was also the first female flight sergeant at 3MCS and led the Squadron’s training flight; giving trainee RAF Chefs and Air Ground Stewards the fundamental skills required to work in a deployed field kitchen. Maxine then became Flight Sergeant Ops, which provided valuable experience of the training and operational environments.
Image By: SAC Kimberley Waterson
Initially formed in 1975 as the RAF Mobile Catering Support Unit, 3MCS has been supporting exercises and operations for over forty years. The Squadron regularly supports fast jet deployments and can offer immediate support to aircraft crash situations.
3MCS is part of the RAF Support Force. The RAF Support Force brings together most of the capabilities and skills needed to sustain modern air operations and exercises; specialist engineering and logistics, advanced military communications and tactical medical services.
Despite the status of her role, long service and obvious expertise Maxine is not fazed about being 3MCS’s first female Squadron Warrant Officer. She said: “I’ve never really looked at the gender thing if I am honest. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities I have been afforded throughout my career to date and being a female has never stopped me doing any of it.”
As the Squadron Warrant Officer, Mrs Booth will make sure that all 3MCS’ day to day functions run smoothly but more importantly her focus is to invest her time in supporting the team by providing opportunities for them to grow, attain their goals and develop their professional passions.
Image By: SAC Kimberley Waterson
She said: “Being Warrant Officer 3MCS, has always been an aspiration. I think once you’ve been on the Sqn you never want to leave or when you do leave you look for the next opportunity to come back. For me, returning to Wittering as Warrant Officer 3MCS, is like returning home.”
Wing Commander Wayne Tracey commands No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing, of which 3MCS is a part. He said: “Mrs Booth is well qualified for this role and I am pleased to welcome her back to 3MCS. It is an important job that requires a detailed understanding of catering, logistics and a real knowledge of people. Warrant Officer Booth has all of these, and I am looking forward to working with her.”
