Piers Benton

On applying to the Senior Service in 2015 Piers aspired to be a Naval Barrister.  Fortunately, assignments after Dartmouth to HMS DARING, HMS SEAHAWK, NATO Maritime Command, HMS PRINCE OF WALES, Commando Training Centre Royal Marines and Joint Force Support (Middle East) allowed him to demonstrate an ability and passion for providing Command with logistical and legal support. 

Patrolling the Bab-al-Mendeb strait off the coast of Yemen in a Type 45 Destroyer and the inaugural landing of an F-35 fighter jet on Britain’s largest aircraft carrier provided the formative working environment from which Piers would deal with Summary Hearings, preparation for Courts Martial, Service Complaints and matters of employment law.  

A notable case saw a sailor’s Compulsory Drugs Test failure contested after the tamper proof seal on the sample sent for independent testing was found to be broken.  Through systematic analysis of the evidence from the laboratory and liaison with multiple agencies a sound result was achieved.  

Piers’ appraisal reports have consistently referred to strong powers of both oral and written communication and he received recognition awards while serving with units in Cornwall (SeaKing helicopter squadron) and London (NATO).