Corporal Tkachyk shares his story from a farm in Manitoba to Operation UNIFIER
July 13, 2023 – Defence Stories
By: Major Christopher Daniel, Joint Task Force-UNIFIER Senior Public Affairs Officer
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Corporal Dylan Tkachyk, an infanteer from the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, is one of the Canadian Armed Forces trainers deployed on Operation UNIFIER in the southeast of England.
Corporal Dylan Tkachyk, an infanteer from the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry out of CFB Shilo in Manitoba, was in between instructing soldier skills to Ukrainian recruits in an urban training area in the southeast of England. He was one of the many Canadian Army soldiers deployed on Operation UNIFIER, providing training to Ukrainians preparing to defend their country’s sovereignty, freedom, and independence.
“I was a farmer from Manitoba near Elm Creek my whole life, until I decided to get into an adventure of a lifetime shortly after my 18th birthday. I went to the Canadian Armed Forces recruiting centre, and here I am now in Europe, hoping to make a difference in the lives of Ukrainians through our training mission,” he said.
Corporal Tkachyk is half Ukrainian and half French-Canadian.
“When I got the message that I would be deployed on Operation UNIFIER, I was very excited and I felt a great sense of pride and honour to be sharing my infantry skills with my fellow Ukrainians,” he shared. “From my simple farm life in Manitoba, I’m now on my first deployment doing what is right when it matters.”
Looking back at the time when he was at the recruiting centre, he said the recruiter showed him videos about the Infantry trade. “I love being in the environment, I enjoy crawling through dirt and being in the mud,” he said with a big smile.
Infantry Soldiers are the Canadian Army’s primary combat fighters and are responsible for closing with and engaging the enemy. They are the core members of the Army’s Combat Arms team.
He glanced at the Ukrainian trainees, attentively reviewing their soldier card during breaktime.
Caption
Corporal Dylan Tkachyk, an infanteer from the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, is one of the Canadian Armed Forces trainers deployed on Operation UNIFIER in the southeast of England.
“Ukrainians are very bright, very eager to learn, they ask a lot questions, and they communicate with each other very well. Everyday I see their determination to master the skills that we teach them and this inspires me to do my job. It’s a great honour knowing that I’m part of their preparation and training to defend their country,” he said.
His advice to young Canadians like him considering to join the Canadian Army is to simply do it.
“If you’re nervous, or you’re hesitating because of the unknown, just throw the odd ball, try the Army for a couple contracts. If it doesn’t work for you, then go back home.”
He shared that he was also nervous at first. But he’s still in the Army, and enjoying the adventures of an expeditionary deployment.
“What I like the most in the Army is the camaraderie. The friendship that we build in the regiment is like a family. It reminds me of the lasting friendships in high school, but with a real job that makes a difference not only in Canada but in the world.”