Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Cross
Awarded on: 2008-06-11
Invested on: 2009-02-13
As commander of Task Force Kabul from February to August 2005, Colonel Semianiw led Canada’s military efforts on land throughout South-West Asia. Identifying that supporting and developing Afghan self-government was critical to the rebuilding process, he established a framework to set the conditions for the successful deployment of the Strategic Advisory Team to Kabul and Canada’s first Provincial Reconstruction Team to Kandahar province. A dynamic leader, he demonstrated exceptional operational initiative during the seamless transfer of operations from Kabul to Kandahar.