Australian Deployment Dates: 1 August 1947 to 1 January 1949 (UNGOC). 1 January 1949 to 30 April 1951 (UNCI)

Strength: Approximately 45 ADF personnel (Total).

Area of Operations (AO): Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)

Purpose: UNGOC was the first UN peacekeeping mission in which Australia was involved. The mission was established in 1947 as the Good Offices Commission (GOC). At the end of World War II, the Dutch sought to re-establish their rule in the then Netherlands East Indies but were resisted by the newly established Indonesian republic. Australia became involved in the mission in August 1947 when locally based diplomatic staff were seconded to the GOC to assist in the delineation and supervision of the ceasefire and repatriation of Dutch forces to the Netherlands. Later in August, four more Australians joined the mission as military observers and the commitment increased to 15 when the GOC became UNCI in 1949. The Australian force was withdrawn in April 1951.

Comments: Australian Army Brigadier L.G.H Dyke, RAN Officer Commander H.S. Chesterman, Army Major D.L. Campbell, and RAAF Officer Squadron Leader D.T. Spence, DFC are noted as the first Australians and the world’s first ever UN peacekeepers to deploy into the field under the auspices of UNGOC.

Repatriated: SQNLDR D.T. Spence, DFC – Illness (Later KIA in Korea).

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 1 August 1947 to 1 January 1949 (UNGOC). 1 January 1949 to 30 April 1951 (UNCI).

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• The Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘INDONESIA’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S274 of 18 Jul 96
• The United Nations Special Service Medal with Clasp ‘UNCI’ or ‘UNGOC’. Force assigned – 90 days.

Australian Deployment Dates: 13 August 1948 to 1985.

Strength: Approx 280 ADF personnel including, 96 RAAF personnel with the UNMOGIP Air Unit with an RAAF DHC-4 Caribou (1975 – 79) provided from 38 Squadron.

Area of Operations (AO): India, Pakistan and Kashmir.

Purpose: To supervise the first ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, and has remained in place ever since, as Kashmir remains ‘territory in dispute’ under international law. Australia provided 6 man Observer teams serving one or two year tours of duty. During the Vietnam War, Army reservists were used to man the contingent, as the army’s resources were stretched fighting in the Vietnam War.

Comments: Of note, the first and longest serving commander of UNMOGIP was Australian Major General (later Lieutenant General), R.H. Nimmo CBE, who was appointed the Chief Military Observer (CMO) UNMOGIP in October 1950, and he remained in command until his death on 4 January 1966. His 15 year command is a UN record and one unlikely to ever be broken.

In March 1975 to January 1979, an RAAF DHC-4 Caribou from the 38th Squadron, comprising 12 men, conducted operations in support of UNMOGIP on 6-month rotations.

In 1985 the contingent was withdrawn because the government considered Australia was overcommitted to the UN at that time.

Died: (1) LTGEN R.H. Nimmo, CBE – CMO (Heart Attack).

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 13 August 1948 to 1985.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘KASHMIR’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 274 dated 18 Jul 96
• Australian Service Medal (1975-Present) with Clasp ‘KASHMIR’. Posted – 90 days; Visitor / TDY – 90 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: GN323 dated 21 May 1990
• UNMOGIP Medal. Force assigned – 6 months.

Australian Deployment Dates: 9 June 1950 to 23 June 1950

Strength: 2

Area of Operations (AO): South Korea.

Purpose: UNCOK was originally established in 1948 as a diplomatic mission to monitor the withdrawal of WWII occupation forces from Korea, and provide UN good offices for unification of the two regimes fostered by the USA and USSR as occupying powers. In May 1950, war loomed on the still divided Korean peninsula and military observers to undertake monitoring activities in the field supplemented UNCOK.

Comments: By the eve of hostilities, only two Australian Observers, Major F.S.B Peach and Squadron Leader R.J. Rankin, were on the ground in Korea. Whilst it was Australia’s smallest peacekeeping contingent, it was one of the most important since they were the only UNCOK observers in place when North Korea invaded South Korea in late June 1950. Their thorough report proved that North Korea had initiated hostilities and provided the evidence needed for the UN to intervene in South Korea.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 9 June 1950 to 23 June 1950.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945 – 1975) with Clasp ‘KOREA’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001

Australian Deployment Dates: 1 July 1950 to 19 April 1956

Strength: Approximately 17,000. Deployment included one Aircraft Carrier (HMAS Sydney), two destroyers, two Infantry Battalions with supporting arms and services, and a RAAF Fighter Squadron with supporting services.

Area of Operations (AO): Korea and in some cases Japan.

Purpose: UNC-K was the UN’s first peace restoration (peacemaking) operation. The operation was in response to the North Korean invasion of South Korea in an attempt to force re-unification of the peninsula. An armistice was concluded in 1953.

Comments: Australia’s largest combined service operation since the Second World War.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 2; 1 July 1950 to 27 July 1953. Schedule 3; 28 July 1953 to 26 Aug 1957.

Service Type: Warlike (1 July 1950 to 27 July 1953) and Non-warlike (28 July 1953 – 26 August 1957).

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘KOREA’ (1 July 1950 to 27 July 1953). Posted – 1 day; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 54 dated 10 February 1998
• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘KOREA’ (28 July 1953 – 26 August 1957). Posted – 30 days; Vistor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• British Commonwealth Korea War Medal. 1 July 1950 to 27 July 1953. Posted – 1 day; Visitor / TDY – 30 days. Service excluded – Anywhere outside Korea or Korean waters.
• United Nations Medal with Clasp ‘KOREA’. 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. UN force assigned – 1 Day; Non UN force assigned – 30 days.
• Army Combat Badge. Awarded for 90 days service to the 1 RAR, 2 RAR and 3 RAR Batallion Groups.
• Infantry Combat Badge [ICB] is also awarded to those who served in one of the three Infantry Battalions: 1 RAR, 2 RAR and 3 RAR.
• The US Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), for their heroism in the battle of KAPYONG.
• The South Korean Presidential Unit Citation was awarded by the South Korean Government to the RAN in recognition of those ships involved with the US 7th Fleet on 27 July 1953, and to 77 Squadron RAAF on 1 November 1951. In both cases, the citations were officially accepted. However, as part of a modified agreement with the Commander-in-Chief, British Commonwealth Forces Japan and Korea, approval by the Queen for those eligible to wear the accompanying emblem was not pursued at that time. The Governor-General, under delegated powers from the Queen, approved the wearing of the Citations in 1998.

The ships and units which were awarded the South Korean Presidential Unit Citation are; HMAS ANZAC, HMAS BATAAN, HMAS CONDAMINE, HMAS CULGOA, HMAS MURCHISON, HMAS SHOALHAVEN, HMAS SYDNEY including 805 Squadron, 808 Squadron, 815 Squadron, HMAS TOBRUK, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and 77 SQN (RAAF).

Died: 339

Wounded: Approximately 1,200

Prisoners: 29

Australian Deployment Dates: 28 July 1953 to ongoing.

Strength: Originally 6 – with one ADF Senior officer & one ADF Senior NCO (Equivalent (E)), continually serving. Estimated Total: 68.

Area of Operations (AO): Korea

Purpose: UNCMAC was established in July 1953 at the end of the Korean War to supervise the Korean Armistice Agreement, and which has been operating ever since. UNCMAC’s observation role is limited to the monitoring of the armistice, the investigation of serious incidents and participation in relevant negotiations. UNCMAC does not permanently deploy observers along the ceasefire line.

Australia: Since 1956 the Australian Liaison Officer (ALO) within the Commonwealth Liaison Mission to UNCMAC carried out Australia’s UNCMAC responsibilities. The ALO was a Major (E) rank with an assistant of Corporal (E). Postings to the ALO varied from 18 months to 2 years. In 1967 the ALO team was reallocated as the Defence Attaché (DA) to the Australian Embassy in Seoul. In turn, the position ranks also raised one step to LTCOL (E) and SGT (E). Since then, Australia’s UNCMAC responsibilities have been that of the DA at the Australian Embassy in Seoul.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 28 July 1953 onward.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘KOREA’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• Australian General Service Medal – Korea (AGSM-K). For 30 days service during the post-Armistice period from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956. Visitor/TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 20 dated 3 March 2010
• Australian Service Medal (1975-Present) with Clasp ‘KOREA’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• Returned from Active Service Badge (RASB): 30 Days Service from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956.
  Defence Honours and Awards Manual Chapter 40, para 40.12.

Operation PALADIN

Australian Deployment Dates: 1956 to ongoing.

Strength: Total estimated to be 700. 12 personnel at any given time. Continual 12 month tours.

Area of Operations (AO): Syria (including the Golan Heights) Amman – Jordan, Beirut – Lebanon, Cairo & Ismalia – Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE), Gaza, Damascus, Tiberius – Israel, Naquoura, Nahariya, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Purpose: In April 1948 a Truce Commission was established to supervise the various armistices and truces after the first Arab-Israeli War. In mid-June 1948 military observers were added to the Commission and UNTSO was formed, becoming an independent observer mission in mid-August 1949. UNTSO has continued to supervise subsequent ceasefires after the 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982 Arab-Israeli Wars. UNTSO’s area of operations covers Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Australia’s involvement in the mission commenced in 1956.

Comments: Commanded by Australian Major General Tim Ford from 1998 to 2000. Australians serving with the Observer Group Lebanon have been kidnapped and maltreated by irregular militias. UNTSO remains as the UN’s (and Australia’s), longest ever peacekeeping mission.

Died: 1 – On 12 January 1988, Captain Peter McCarthy, Royal Australian Corps of Transport, became the twenty-second UNTSO soldier to die on deployment when his jeep was blown up by a landmine during a patrol in southern Lebanon.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 1 June 1956 onward.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945 – 1975) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• Australian Service Medal (1975 – Present) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’. Posted 90 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 418 dated 4 November 2002
• UNTSO Medal. Force assigned – 6 months.

Australia: 11 July 1958 to 9 December 1958.

Strength: Unknown.

Area of Operations (AO): Lebanese border adjacent to Syria.

Purpose: To ensure that there was no illegal infiltration of personnel or supply of arms or other materiel across the Lebanese borders. After the conflict had been settled, tensions eased and UNOGIL was withdrawn.

Comments: Australian members of UNTSO were seconded to UNOGIL and were unarmed.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 11 July 1958 to 9 December 1958.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• UNTSO Medal. Force assigned – 6 months.

Australia: 3 October 1962 to 30 April 1963.

Strength: 11 personnel (total). Detachment from 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron, consisting of four Army pilots, seven RAAF ground crew and two Sioux helicopters.

Area of Operations (AO): West New Guinea

Purpose: In early 1962 Indonesian forces landed in the disputed territory of West New Guinea, which was then under Dutch control. Following the cessation of hostilities between Indonesia and the Netherlands, UNTEA was established in October 1962 to supervise the transfer of West New Guinea from Dutch to Indonesian administration. Established in October 1962 to maintain peace and security in the territory under the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority established by agreement between Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. UNSF monitored the cease-fire and helped ensure law and order during the transition period, pending transfer to Indonesia. Upon completion of the mandate, the Mission was withdrawn in April 1963.

Comments: Australia’s Helicopter team joined UNTEA to assist with the conduct of a cholera eradication program. The detachment was withdrawn near the end of the program after one of the helicopters crashed. There is however, no record from the UN of Australia joining the UNTEA team.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 3 October 1962 to 30 April 1963.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘W NEW GUINEA’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Gazette S 337 dated 5 September 1995
• UNTEA Medal. Force assigned – 3 months.

Australia: 4 July 1963 to 4 September 1964.

Strength: 2

Area of Operations (AO): Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Republic.

Purpose: Established in July 1963 to observe and certify the implementation of the disengagement agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Republic.

Comments: Mission ended its activities and was withdrawn in September 1964.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 4 July 1963 to 4 September 1964.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 of 27 March 2001
• UNYOM medal. Force assigned – 60 days.

Australia: May 1964 to June 2017.

Strength: A total of 111 contingents involving more than 1600 officers from all states and territories served with UNFICYP.

Area of Operations (AO): Cyprus.

Purpose: UNFICYP is the world’s longest-running peacekeeping mission, and is focused on building and maintaining stability between the north and south of Cyprus. The Force was established in March 1964 in an attempt to prevent the recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions. Since the hostilities of 1974, the mandate has included supervising the cease-fire and maintaining a buffer zone between the lines of the Cyprus National Guard and of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces to prevent further fighting between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the island.

AFP: The AFP provided 15 officers on yearly rotation (later 6 month tours) to the 20-nation force which serves in policing, military and civilian roles. The policing contingent oversaw law enforcement within the buffer zone between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. AFP officers also supported the civil affairs branch of the mission to deliver humanitarian services and assist the military branch maintain the integrity of the buffer zone.

Comments: From 1964 to 1976 all Australian Police Forces contributed volunteer personnel to the UN Force in Cyprus. From 1976 the Commonwealth Police took over the role until 1979 when the duty passed to the newly created AFP.

Died: 3 – Sergeant Llewellyn Thomas, from South Australia Police, was involved in a car accident near Limassol and succumbed to his injuries on 26 July 1969. Inspector Patrick Hackett, from the NSW Police Force, was killed in a car accident near Stroumbi on 29 August 1971. Sergeant Ian Ward, also from the NSW Police Force, was killed on 12 November 1974, when the vehicle he was travelling in struck a landmine in the buffer zone between the north and south.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): NIL.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Gazette: Unknown.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Police Overseas Service Medal (POSM) with Clasp ‘CYPRUS’. Unknown qualifying period.
• UNFICYP medal. Force assigned – 3 months.

Australia: 20 September 1965 to 1966.

Strength: 3

Area of Operations (AO): India and Pakistan.

Purpose: In September 1965, the UN negotiated a ceasefire to end the second Indo-Pakistan war and established UNIPOM to assist UNMOGIP in supervising the ceasefire and withdrawal of forces along the India-Pakistan border. This did not include Kashmir, which remained an UNMOGIP responsibility.

Comments: Lieutenant General Nimmo, the Australian CMO of UNMOGIP, was appointed acting CMO UNIPOM until a separate CMO was available. When this occurred in October 1965, UN HQ delegated Nimmo oversight of both missions due to their close relationship.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 20 September 1965.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘KASHMIR’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 274 dated 18 July 1996
• UNMOGIP Medal. Force assigned – 6 months.

Australia: 3 June 1974 to present.

Strength: Unknown. Quoted by the ADF as “a few”.

Area of Operations (AO): Syria (including the Golan Heights) Amman – Jordan, Beirut – Lebanon, Cairo & Ismalia – Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE), Gaza, Damascus, Tiberius – Israel, Naquoura, Nahariya, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Purpose: To supervise the cease-fire between Israel and Syria; to supervise the redeployment of Syrian and Israeli forces; and to establish a buffer zone, as provided in the Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces of May 1974.

The force initially deployed consisted of a headquarters, two Infantry Battalions, two logistic companies and a group of 90 military observers assigned to UNDOF from UNTSO. It was believed to be the first time that a UN force comprising armed troops and unarmed officer observers had been raised. They performed the following tasks: man observation positions in battalion areas; carry out the inspections of the Limited Forces Areas (LFAs) as provided for in the agreement; conduct investigations; carry out routine or special patrols; and serve in staff positions.

Comments: All Australian officers were unarmed and detached from the UNTSO mission.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 3 Jun 1974 onward.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• Australian Service Medal (1975-Present) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 418 dated 4 November 2002
• UNTSO Medal. Force assigned – 6 months. Australians have not been eligible for the UNDOF Medal as they were seconded to this mission for less than 90 days.

Australia: 25 October 1973 to 31 July 1979.

Strength: Total Strength 280 personnel. Consisting of 46-man Detachment from 5 Squadron RAAF, operating four UH-1H Iroquois helicopters on six month tours plus an Army staff officer and a Warrant Officer on a twelve-month tour to HQ UNEF.

Area of Operations (AO): Israel and Egypt.

Purpose: Established in October 1973 to supervise the cease-fire between Egyptian and Israeli forces and, following the conclusion of the agreements of 18 January 1974 and 4 September 1975, to supervise the redeployment of Egyptian and Israeli forces and to control the buffer zones established under those agreements. The mandate for this Mission expired in July 1979 and the troops were withdrawn in Aug 1979.

Comments : Nil.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 25 October 1973 to 31 July 1979.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1945-1975) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 102 dated 27 March 2001
• Australian Service Medal (1975-Present) with Clasp ‘MIDDLE EAST’. Posted – 90 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 418 dated 4 November 2002
• UNEF II Medal. Force assigned – 90 days.

Operation AGILA

Australian Deployment Dates: 1 December 1979 to 2 March 1980.

Strength: Australian Army contingent of 152 all ranks.

Area of Operations (AO): Rhodesia / Zimbabwe.

Purpose: In December 1979, the CMF was established by the Commonwealth to supervise the implementation of the Lancaster House Agreement between the government of Southern Rhodesia and the guerilla forces of the Patriotic Front. Under the agreement UK authority was restored over its rebellious colony and a ceasefire implemented. A general election followed and independence was achieved by the new Republic of Zimbabwe.
The role of the multi-national force was to keep the peace between 22,000 guerrillas and the Rhodesian forces during the cease-fire run-up to the 1980 elections. The CMF was tasked with monitoring the agreement and resembled a UN observer mission except that its duties were more extensive, it enjoyed municipal backing.

Comments: The Australians were largely spread throughout the force, which consisted of a HQ and 3 Groups. The CMFR were armed as well as conducting the monitoring of the ceasefire and elections.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 1 December 1979.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Gazette: Nil.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Rhodesia Medal. Posted – 14 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
• Zimbabwe Independence Medal. Awarded to recipients of the Rhodesia Medal.

Australia: 18 March 1982 to 24 March 1984.

Strength: Total Strength 20 personnel. 4 Teams of 5 Infantry Officers, Warrant Officers and Senior NCOs. Each team deployed for 6 months.

Area of Operations (AO): Uganda.

Purpose: The role of the Commonwealth Military Training Team Uganda (CMTTU) was to train and discipline the Uganda National Liberation Army, which was formed after the overthrow of Idi Amin.

Comments: The CMTTU consisted of a 36 man training team from seven Commonwealth countries.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 18 March 1982 to 24 March 1984.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods: Australian Service Medal (ASM) with Clasp ‘UGANDA’. Posted – 90 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: GN26 dated 12 July 1989

Operation MAZURKA

Australian Deployment Dates: 9 February 1982 to 28 April 1986; 6 January 1993 – ongoing.

Strength: 1,152 personnel (1982-1986) consisting 8 UH-1H helicopters with 144 personnel on six-month tours. 5 Army and 2 RAAF officers worked at HQ MFO. Approximately 676 personnel (1993 to present) 26 -strong contingent at HQ MFO.

Area of Operations (AO): The Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE), and Israel.

Purpose: Operation Mazurka is Australia’s contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai. The MFO was established in 1981 to oversee the Camp David Accords of 1978 and the Egypt/Israel Peace Treaty of 1979. Under the Accords, Israel withdrew from the Egyptian territory it had occupied since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The MFO was created outside the framework of the UN because the Soviet Union was opposed to UN involvement. The MFO is governed by the US State Department and is headquartered in Rome.

Comments: Australia and New Zealand contributed to the MFO at the outset by providing the Force’s Rotary Wing Aviation Unit (RWAU). The ADF provided a joint RAN / Army / RAAF detachment, comprising 8 UH-1H helicopters. The Contingent was withdrawn in April 1986 as the government sought to reduce Australia’s peacekeeping commitments.

On 8 January 1993 the ADF returned to the Sinai again. A 26 strong contingent of HQ staff and MP’s initially on 12 month tours, then reduced to 6 – 9 month tours, rejoined the MFO following a review of the government’s position. Primarily the Australians assist in the peace process by monitoring the border and preparing daily operational briefings, and support to the Headquarters. In addition to these staff functions, they undertake an important force training function that includes physical training.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA): Schedule 3; 18 February 1983 onward.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) with Clasp ‘SINAI’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 27 dated 23 January 1997
• MFO Sinai Medal. Force assigned – 90 days until 1985 when the criterion changed to 170 days.

Australia: 12 August 1988 to 28 February 1991.

Strength: 60.

Area of Operations (AO): Iran.

Purpose: In early August 1988 the UN established UNIIMOG to supervise the ceasefire between Iran and Iraq at the end of their eight year long war, known as the First Gulf War. Australia’s involvement began with the temporary secondment of an observer from UNTSO, followed by a fifteen-man contingent from Australia four days later on 16 August. All the Australians served on the Iranian side of the ceasefire line because Iraq vetoed an Australian presence in Iraqi held territory. This was due to the fact that an Australian government scientist, Dr Peter Dunn, was a member of the UN team that had proved Iraqi use of chemical weapons during three inspections in the 1984-87 period.

Comments: UNIIMOG service was particularly arduous due to a combination of a volatile ceasefire, climatic extremes, harsh terrain, primitive operational conditions, and the stress and social deprivation experienced by Westerners in a fundamentalist Islamic society.

The Australian contingent were unarmed United Nations Military Observers (UNMO).

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 11 August 1988 to 28 February 1991.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1975 – Present) with Clasp ‘IRAN-IRAQ’. Posted – 90 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: GN26 dated 12 July 1989
• UNIIMOG Medal. Force assigned – 90 days.

Australia: 18 Feb 1989 to 10 Apr 1990.

Strength: 613 total comprising two rotations. Contingents consisted of Royal Australian Engineers from 17 Construction Squadron, one RAAF officer, 5 Military Police, and a 3 person Royal Australian Signals Detachment.

Area of Operations (AO): Namibia.

Purpose: In April 1989, the UN established UNTAG in Namibia, South Western Africa, and to a limited extent in neighbouring countries. This was to supervise the return of refugees, the holding of a general election, the withdrawal of South African forces and Namibia’s transition to independence. The Australians were armed only with personal weapons during the entire mission.

Comments: The Australian Contingent mainly consisted of Army Engineers. From 26 October to 20 November 1989, the Australian Electoral Commission provided an electoral organisation expert and 27 electoral supervisors. The Australian Federal Police contributed a fingerprint expert in order to assist in the conduct of the general election which was held in early November, 1989.

The Australians were vital to the success of the mission as the Australian engineer and British signals advance parties were the only troops on the ground when the ceasefire collapsed in early April 1989. They were hurriedly redeployed to bolster a renegotiated ceasefire by supervising the withdrawal of SWAPO guerillas from Namibia. The Second contingent’s engineering and local security activities were also instrumental in the successful return of thousands of refugees and the conduct of the general election.

Contingent members were originally awarded the Australian Service Medal however this descision was reversed and, on 26 July 2001 the award was upgraded to the Australian Active Service Medal.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 2; 18 Feb 1989 to 10 Apr 1990.

Service Type: Warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) with Clasp ‘NAMIBIA’. Posted – 30 days; Visitor / TDY – 30 days.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: S 303 dated 26 July 2001
• UNTAG Medal. Force assigned – 90 days.

Operation SALAAM

Australian Deployment Dates: 16 July 1989 to December 1993.

Strength: Approx 95 personnel. Between 4 – 9 Army field Engineers per rotation.

Area of Operations (AO): Afghanistan & Pakistan.

Purpose: To train Pakistan based Afghan refugees in mine and ordnance recognition and basic clearance techniques. In January 1991, this broadened to include the planning and supervision of mine clearance activities in Afghanistan.

Comments: The UNMCTT originally consisted of contingents from nine countries, but only Australia remained by 1992. Its activities are conducted under the auspices of the Geneva based UN Coordinator for Afghanistan (UNOCA). In July 1993, Australia announced it would withdraw from HQ UNOCA and extracted its teams in December 1993.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 16 July 1989 to December 1993.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) with Clasp ‘PESHWAR’. Posted – 90 days; Visitor / TDY – N/A.
  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: GN16 dated 26 April 1990
• United Nations Special Service Medal with Clasp ‘UNOCA’. Force assigned – 90 days.