Fellow Royals The award of the U.S. Bronze Star Medal to Captain (WSE Major) Robert P. Ryan, a serving officer of The Royal Canadian Regiment, was authorized on 07 December 2013. From 10 December 2012 – 30 September 2013 Major Ryan had served in Afghanistan as a member of Task Force Gladiator, Combined Joint Task Force-101, United States Army. He was the J3 Regional Support Command East during the period of December 2012 – June 2013. Subsequently, Major Ryan was employed as the J3 Afghan National Security Force Development for the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division during the period of July 2013 – September 2013. As both positions were designated as Lieutenant-Colonel positions, he was working two ranks above his own substantive rank throughout his deployment. The Bronze Star Medal Nomination Narrative for Major Robert P. Ryan, see attachment and complete text copied below, provides a detailed and compelling description of the exceptional service and contribution provided to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM by Major Ryan. The Bronze Star Medal Citation for Major Ryan reads as follows. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, 24 AUGUST 1962 HAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL TO MAJOR ROBERT P. RYAN (TASK FORCE GLADIATOR, COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE-101) FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MEREITORIOUS SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, AFGHANISTAN FROM 10 DECEMBER 2012 TO 30 September 2013. HIS PERSONALCOURAGE AND COMMITMENT TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT IN A COMBAT ZONE, UNDER THE MOST EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF OPERATION ENDURING FRREDOM. HIS PERFORMANCE REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, TASK FORCE GLADIATOR, COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE-101 AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY. Following his outstanding tour in Afghanistan, Captain Robert P. Ryan was officially presented with the Bronze Star Medal in a moving ceremony that took place at the foot of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota in June 2014. Please see attached photograph. Captain Rob Ryan has been a member of the Canadian Army for the past 29 years. He enlisted as a Private in the Princess Louise Fusiliers in 1986 at the age of 17. He successfully completed the Infantry Section commander’s Course, the Advanced Mortar Course, and eventually commissioned. In July 1996 Captain Ryan completed a component transfer and joined the 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR). He served as a rifle platoon commander, Battalion Transport Officer, and as Mortar Platoon Commander. Captain Ryan’s platoon won the Alma Trophy during his tenure of command. In 2000 he was posted to the Combat Training Centre. Captain Ryan returned to 2 RCR in 2002 and served in turn as 2IC of Combat Support Company, 2IC Administration company, and as Adjutant. He next served at LFCA Training Centre, 2004-2005, and was then posted to LFCA HQ as a staff officer. In October 2006 Captain Rob Ryan suffered a horrendous near-fatal motorcycle accident. Through extraordinary efforts he recovered and regained the ability to walk. Though slated at one point for medical release, Captain Ryan demonstrated tremendous determination and effort and was eventually able to return to full duties. From July 2011 he served with the Lorne Scots of Brampton, Ontario as Operations Officer until the time of his deployment to Afghanistan. Since redeployment to Canada, Captain Ryan has been employed as the Adjutant of the Lorne Scots. Please read the attached biography of Captain Robert P. Ryan. It makes for very interesting reading. On behalf of Regimental Headquarters I would like to congratulate Captain Ryan on the award of this obviously well-deserved and important honour from our closest ally. Bronze Star Medal Nomination Narrative for Major Robert P. Ryan Major Robert P. Ryan, Canadian Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States of America when as a Brevet Major, While So Employed (WSE), Major Ryan was engaged as the J3 for Regional Support Command East (RSC-E), during the period of 10 December 2012 to 19 June 2013 and then subsequently, the J3 for the Regional Command East (RC-E) Afghan National Security Force Development Directorate (ADD) from 19 June 13 to 30 September 2013. As the J3, Major Ryan was the principal staff officer responsible for all matters concerning operations, plans, training and force development for RSC-E. As this was a Lieutenant Colonel position, Major Ryan was working two ranks above his substantive rank. Despite this, through his leadership and resourcefulness, he earned the trust and confidence of his Commander, peers and subordinates. RSC-E was a Brigade-level, Combined, Joint, Multi-National unit with representatives from nine countries. RSC-E functioned at the Operational and Tactical levels, supporting RC- E (Combined Joint Task Force 101) to enable an Afghan led security. He accomplished his mission via coordinating the advice and assist teams at the regional and national individual training centres, logistics mentorship at Regional Logistics (Police) and Regional Logistics Support (Army) Centres, and facilitating the institutional development of all Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in the RC-E Area of Responsibility (AOR). RSC-E was the largest Regional Support Command in Afghanistan and was responsible for nineteen Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police training and logistics centers. Soon after arrival, Major Ryan identified that RSC-E HQ was not effectively tracking site transition packets through the Unified Transition Plan (UTP) process and had not yet successfully completed a site transition. On his own initiative, he and his staff assumed this responsibility. Utilizing the UTP process, Maj Ryan affected the transfer of these sites from International Security Assistance Force Control to the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the ANSF. Through the application of a personable approach and successful coordination, he was able to synchronize the various staff section responsible for transition within RSC-E HQ, the Deputy Command Army, the Deputy Command Police, and the Deputy Command Support Operations. He developed a comprehensive plan for the completion and tracking of site transition packets and the physical transfer, closure or re-missioning of training site to the ANSF. As a result, he directly contributed to the successful transfer of eighteen sites, including the transfer of the first Regional Logistics Center (RLC) nationally, GARDEZ RLC, to the Afghan National Police. Major Ryan’s achievements during his assignment with RSC-E provided an extraordinary contribution to the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) and played a vital role in helping the Afghan people rebuild their nation. As the chief of the movement and manoeuvre war fight functions, he coordinated the employment of Divisional Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance assets, route clearance packages, indirect fires as well as other enablers, ensuring the safe and efficient movement of all NTM-A personnel within the battle space. Major Ryan demonstrated outstanding courage and exceptional leadership by exposing himself to the risks of IEDs, ambushes, and Insider Attacks through the conduct of numerous road moves and site visits to view firsthand the issues that his site leads and security forces faced. As the J3, Major Ryan was required to prepare and authenticate all plans and orders for the Commander, RES-E; he ably ensured synchronization in time, space, and purpose, in accordance with the commander’s intent and planning guidance. Major Ryan was responsible to coordinate the activities of NTM-A personnel by integrating and synchronizing all RSC-E operations across the planning horizons. As a result, his efforts have directly contributed to the success of RSC-E’s mission. Through these efforts, ANSF training centers have graduated over 5000 students; the RSC-E HQ has executed $78,674,487.66 in life support, completed $6, 3036.072.79 in construction, transferred over $54,000,000.00 in property and reduced overall costs by $78,113,385.79. Major Ryan was the RSC-E principal planner for the functional realignment under RC-E command. He ensured the smooth transfer of all mentoring and staff functions at all RSC-E locations. Major Ryan served as the senior members for the Canadian Contingent Training Mission Afghanistan at Bagram Airfield. As such, he was responsible for the leadership, supervision, continuation training and administration of six Captains, one Sergeant, and one Corporal, all of whom were working in a multi-national context for the first time. Major Ryan’s actions projected and preserved a strong, positive image of Canada’s role in Afghanistan. As the senior Canadian Officer working in a Combined, Joint and Multi-National Headquarters, Major Ryan fostered strong connections and acted as an ambassador for both Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces. His professionalism and commitment to duty, under difficult and dangerous conditions, coupled with his drive and enthusiasm contributed significantly to the operational readiness of the ANSF and have brought honor and credit to himself, Taskforce Gladiator, Combined Joint Task Force-101 and the United States Army. Pro Patria Ross Appleton Captain Regimental Adjutant The Royal Canadian Regiment National Defence Petawawa, ON, Canada K8H 2X3 [email protected] Telephone 613-687-5511, Ext 5086 Facsimile 613-588-5932 Government of Canada
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 02:13:30 +0000