Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded on: August 27, 2004
- Invested on: November 26, 2004
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel Thurrott was the commanding officer of 2 Service Battalion and of Task Force Kabul National Support Element on Operation ATHENA, in Afghanistan, in 2003. He used his experiences to coordinate sustainment within the Kabul Multi-National Brigade and on operations within the Task Force as a whole. He provided key insights and direction to the Army Support Review, and fostered relations between support organizations, both on preparatory exercises and in the operational theatre. Lieutenant-Colonel Thurrott displayed vision and professionalism in his management of difficult yet vital issues. His offer of support from the Canadian National Support Element to the Heavy Weapons Cantonment, when no other nation offered assistance, clearly had an impact on the overall success of this mission.
