Colonel Orest Babij

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division

Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2017-10-19
Invested on: 2018-02-28
From May 2016 to July 2017, Colonel Babij was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as an intelligence liaison officer for the Ministerial Liaison Team and as commanding officer of Canadian personnel. He provided vital intelligence briefings, liaised effectively with the U.S. military and the government of Iraq, and reinforced the Iraqi Security Forces’ capacity to combat Daesh. With inspiring leadership and technical acumen, Colonel Babij has brought great credit to himself and promoted Canada’s strategic objectives in the region. This is the second M.S.M. awarded to Colonel Babij.
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2009-11-19
Invested on: 2010-06-04
Major Babij was deployed to Afghanistan as the commanding officer of the All Source Intelligence Centre, from September 2008 to April 2009. With an in-depth understanding of the insurgency, he led his team in the production of intelligence products that enabled the targeting of insurgent commanders, reduced rocket attacks against Kandahar Airfield and facilitated the removal of several improvised explosive device networks. By providing current information on the constantly changing battle space, Major Babij and his team enabled numerous Canadian and coalition field commanders to conduct immediate and successful operations against enemy forces.