Mel joined the Squadron in 2001 and has steadily progressed through the ranks to the highest cadet rank, Cadet Warrant Officer.

Along the way she has established herself as one of the premier sportswomen in London Wing, having represented London Wing on seventeen occasions, London and South East Region on five occasions and selected to play netball at national level. CWO Bollen is also captain of the London Wing netball and cross-country teams and assists sports staff at Wing and Region level. As if that were not enough, CWO Bollen has qualified as a Netball Umpire and completed the Community Sports Leader course through the Air Training Corps.
Unsurprisingly, CWO Bollen is the current London Wing Sportswoman of the Year.
CWO Bollen has attended overseas camp in Cyprus, two skiing expeditions to Switzerland (although she claims she still can’t ski) and is travelling to Ghana this year on an International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE).

Mel holds the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards. She was also the first cadet in London Wing to have completed the Millennium Volunteer scheme. On the academic side, Mel has completed her staff cadet training and has completed the BTEC in aeronautical studies. Mel has been awarded the Squadron Best Cadet award twice and in 2006 was awarded the Dacre Broach nomination as the best female cadet in London Wing.

Outside the Squadron, Mel is studying for her A levels and a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Coaching. She is learning to play the organ, is a keen member of the Rangers, with whom she has travelled to Namibia and South Africa and plays in a local netball team.

Mel ended her cadet career at the end of 2007 and transfered over to the staff team. She is currently the Squadron Training Officer, meaning that she has responsibility for writing the programme for all our activities on parade nights, as well as the academic exam syllabus.