Colour Sergeant Martin Ash from the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, was awarded the MBE for his work with injured marines and his contributions to service charities.
Martin (45), lives in Exeter and currently works with Hunter Company at Lympstone. This company specialises in rehabilitating Royal Marines recruits who have been injured during training or failed a physical or professional test.
He supervises the instructors in Parker Hall - a state of the art gymnasium opened in 2012, dedicated to helping injured recruits. Not only is it a multi-role gymnasium but it also has physiotherapy facilities that allow recruits to receive treatment between fitness sessions.
The MBE also recognises the work he did with injured Royal Marines at 40 Commando in Taunton and the "Not Forgotten Association" (NFA), which is a tri-service charity that provides entertainment and recreation for injured soldiers and for ex-service personnel who have suffered life changing injuries.
"I feel overwhelmed and humbled to have received an MBE," says Martin. "But the real people to be admired are the injured servicemen I have worked with over the years, who benefit from the fantastic work the charity does.
"In 2011 I helped get a group of injured servicemen to row up the Thames to meet the Not Forgotten Association patron, HRH Princess Anne, at the annual Royal Garden Party," he added.
Martin first started to work with the NFA in 2011 whilst 40 Commando were in Afghanistan. He took marines who had suffered injuries and sent them on NFA trips and activities.
He has also worked as a ski instructor for the injured marines and has raised funds for the charity by running in the New York marathon.
"Raising money is my way of helping the association continue to do what it does so well – which is to make a difference to the lives of injured servicemen and women," says Martin.
His work now involves rehabilitating injured recruits who want to complete Royal Marines training. This task is doubly hard because the recruits' morale when entering the rehabilitation system is often low so they need to be re-motivated. The task is both physical and psychological.
Martin, who is married with three children, was informed of his MBE by letter from the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
Among those also receiving their honours at the two-hour ceremony last week were Dame Penolope Keith and Michael Crawford CBE.
Martin said he hobbled up to the Queen on crutches, having ruptured his achillies only three weeks before and laughed with her about the irony of receiving an award for his work with injured servicemen and women when he was injured myself!
He described it as "A really lovely day in beautiful and historic surroundings and enjoyed by all".