Official CF in Iraq (2005)

Vincent J. Curtis

December 2005

This little piece was published by Esprit de Corps magazine in February, 2006, I believe.  I encountered him in Iraq during my embed tour with 1 R Irish of the British army in Iraq in 2005.

LCol Shaun Tymchuk of the PPCLI is Canada’s lone officer in the Iraq theatre, and he is working on behalf of the United Nations.  Specifically, he is helping the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, or UNAMI.  Not considered a peacekeeping operation, UNAMI is controlled out of the UN in New York by the Department of Political Affairs, and LCol Tymchuk is the Military Advisor on the ground in Basra and Baghdad.

UNAMI was established under the terms of SCR 1546, under which the Coalition Forces in Iraq also operate.  UNAMI is assisting Iraq with its constitution, elections, government functions, as well as with development and reconstruction.  Because of the hazardous military situation on the ground in Iraq, the Mission needs a close interface with the Coalition Forces in Baghdad and Basra.  LCol Tymchuk is that interface, and his position as Military Advisor holds the same status of that Military Observer.

LCol Tymchuk began his tour officially on 3 July 2005, and it will conclude at the end of June, 2006, about a year in length.

After thirty five year’s service in the CF, LCol Tymchuk was asked what his future holds after the end of his tour.

“I don’t know.  In part, that’s up to DND.  I really enjoy these tours.  After thirty-five years though, it might be time for me to ‘grow up’ and start acting my age.  My wife will definitely have a say.”

                                                            -XXX-