Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2009-11-19
Invested on: 2010-11-02
Lieutenant-Colonel Shipley was deployed as the commanding officer of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, from September 2008 to April 2009. His understanding of Afghan culture and firm grasp of existing Afghan capabilities enabled him to greatly increase the Afghan National Army’s capacity to take a lead role in the struggle against insurgents in the province. Colonel Shipley’s operational focus and commanding presence not only brought an Afghan brigade to competency, but also provided inspiration to the entire OMLT.