Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded on: October 18, 2006
- Invested on: October 12, 2007
Rank: Major
From May 2005 to February 2006, Major Zilkalns was the Operations Officer of the provincial reconstruction team deployed to Kandahar in support of Operation ARCHER. In Canada’s first deployment of a provincial reconstruction team, he was an exceptional planner and coordinator as well as a tireless leader. His outstanding professionalism, demonstrated in a dangerous and hostile environment, brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.
