RCAF member received high American medal
News Article / March 12, 2014
By Jill St. Marseille
A member of the Royal Canadian Air Force was recently awarded the United States Bronze Star Medal while working with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
Colonel Ian Lightbody was one of five members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) awarded the medal on January 18, 2014. The recipients were recognized for their work with the Afghan Ministry of Defence – Ministerial Advisory Group. The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth highest medal in the U.S. Army.
Colonel Lightbody is currently deployed with the Canadian Contribution Training Mission – Afghanistan (CCTM-A), where he is an advisor to an Afghan general responsible for long-range planning.
In collaboration with the Afghan National Army, Afghan police forces, headed by the Ministry of the Interior, and the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS), he helped develop an operational plan to address security situations and insurgency concerns for the following year. He also helped plan how the national army will look in three, six and nine years from now.
“It’s a great, great honour to be recognized with the bronze star,” said Colonel Lightbody. “We were all taken aback and surprised by it. And the fact that we are here trying to help the Afghans get on their feet so they can do things on their own means that much more.
“Hopefully we leave Afghanistan as a little bit of a better place. It’s not going to change overnight but we helped move the yardstick a little bit further.”
Colonel Lightbody, a Sea King pilot by trade, former commander of 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, and member of the Canadian Armed Forces since 1983, has been deployed with CCTM-A since July 2013 and will be returning to Canada later this month.
Administrative protocols allowing the recipients to wear the foreign medal are currently being processed.
His commendation reads:
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to Colonel Ian Lightbody Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command for exceptionally meritorious service as a senior advisor for the Afghan National Army General Staff, Plans, while deployed in support of operation Enduring Freedom. His outstanding performance, expertise and dedication to duty greatly contributed to the success of the unit's mission during combat operations. Colonel Lightbody's distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the highest honor and traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan and the Canadian Air Force.
It was signed by Lieutenant-General Joseph Anderson, Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and by Mr. John McHugh, the Secretary of the Army on February 11, 2014.