In a ceremony April 28, 2025, at Canadian Armed Forces Headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, Army Reserve Maj. Dino “Oscar” De La Hoya received the Canadian Armed Forces Special Service Medal-Expeditionary for his service in Latvia during Operation UNIFIER.

The award was presented by Lieutenant General Michael Wright, Commander of the Canadian Army, and Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Robin, the Canadian Army Sergeant Major.

Maj. De La Hoya has been assigned to the Canadian Army Staff since 2023 through the Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP) at U.S. Army North.

The MPEP is a U.S. military program designed to strengthen ties with allied and partner nations. It facilitates personnel exchanges to promote security cooperation, share expertise, and enhance defense collaboration.

Photo by Master Sailor Dan Bard, CD, Canadian Armed Forces – Department of National Defence / Government of Canada.

Background: A Canadian Armed Forces' military training and capacity-building mission in support of Ukraine, Operation UNIFIER was launched in 2015 following the Russian annexation of Crimea. The operation aims to bolster capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through critical military training and to date has instructed over 22,000 Ukrainian military personnel.  Operation UNIFIER was modified in early 2022 in response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and reflects Canada's commitment to supporting Ukraine's security and sovereignty.