Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2009-05-29
Invested on: 2009-11-13
On April 21, 2008, insurgents attacked a police substation, in Spin Pir, Afghanistan. In the absence of the detachment commander and second-in-command, Corporal Swanson was the senior Canadian at the substation. Given his rank and limited experience at that time, he coordinated an exceptional response to the attack. In the presence of enemy fire, he confidently directed Canadian and Afghan forces in the defence of the detachment, making effective use of all available surveillance and direct-fire assets. His leadership and devotion to duty prevented the loss of the detachment.