Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Cross
Awarded on: 2009-11-19
Invested on: 2010-06-04
Sergeant Spence was deployed to Afghanistan as the primary engineering advisor to the officer commanding a reconnaissance squadron, from September 2008 to April 2009. Despite not having access to the full range of engineering equipment, he developed mitigating strategies that enabled him to perform tasks better suited to dedicated engineering units. Sergeant Spence overcame the difficulties associated with operating in a remote region. His selflessness and skills provided immediate protection to ground troops and ensured the successful forensic analysis at the scene of multiple improvised explosive device attacks.