Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded on: October 22, 2013
- Invested on: February 18, 2014
Rank: Chief Warrant Officer
As battle group sergeant-major in Afghanistan from April to November 2010, Chief Warrant Officer Hartnell was a key player in high-intensity counter-insurgency operations. Tenacious in combat and a firm disciplinarian, he was respected throughout the unit as a model for others to emulate. Whether providing advice to the commander or leading soldiers in combat, Chief Warrant Officer Hartnell demonstrated impressive leadership, which proved to be critical to the battle group’s operational success.