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The Commonwealth has recognised those ADF service personnel who supported the evacuation of over 4,000 Australians and foreign nations with the medal at RAAF Base Amberley and Lavarack Barracks.
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The ceremonies, held on the 8th of April and 9th of April, respectively, saw those who were deployed under the Afghanistan Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) awarded with the Australian Operational Service Medal - Greater Middle East Operation.
Over 400 members were recognised with the honour, following an amendment to the Australian Operational Medal Regulation 2012.
“Australia’s military air evacuation in Afghanistan was one of the largest humanitarian operations in our history,” Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said.
“In honour of the unique nature of Afghanistan NEO and the outstanding performance of our personnel, I requested the Governor-General to approve changes to the Australian Operational Medal Regulation 2012 to enable these medals to be awarded today.
“I thank the ADF personnel who, along with civilian colleagues, deployed to the Middle East region to conduct the emergency evacuation.
“The extraordinary circumstances under which the ADF conducted airlift evacuations from Hamid Kazi [Karzai] Airport in Kabul were extraordinary. Working with Australian officials, they operated around the clock to evacuate as many people as possible in a highly volatile and dangerous environment.”
In addition to those in the ADF, members of the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Border Force and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are also scheduled to be recognised with the Australian Operational Service Medal (Civilian) - Greater Middle East Operation for their support of the operation.
“The terrible events in Afghanistan in August 2021 should not detract from the service and courage of more than 39,000 ADF personnel who served in support of Afghanistan over the 20-year history of Australia’s engagement. We remember the ultimate sacrifice that was made by 41 Australian soldiers who died on operations in Afghanistan,” Minister Dutton said.
“It is an honour to appropriately recognise the contributions of our ADF.”
Earlier in the week, Veterans' Affairs Minister Andrew Gee announced that the Independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal is reconsidering medallic recognition for service in Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) between 1970 and 1989.
According to the Minister, the tribunal is scheduled to reconsider providing medallic recognition after feedback from Defence members who served in RCB throughout this time.
“The tribunal will consider whether these Australian veterans should receive the Australian Active Service Medal for their deployment to Malaysia,” Minister Gee said
“The issue was looked at by the tribunal more than a decade ago, and a view was taken at the time not to recognise their service as ‘warlike’.
“The New Zealand government recently broadened eligibility for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal for veterans who served in Malaysia and Singapore between 1959 and 1974. Given this, and the concerns raised directly with me by the veteran community, it is timely that this issue is re-examined.
“The tribunal is an independent statutory body specifically set up to consider honours and awards issues like this.
“I sincerely appreciate the many representations made to me and my office on this matter since I took on the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio last year.
“I also acknowledge that veterans who have served on Rifle Company Butterworth deployments have been fighting for this additional recognition for years, and I don’t want this to drag on. I expect the inquiry to be complete by the end of the year.
“This will be a public inquiry and I encourage all those with an interest to make a submission before 1 July 2022.”
Those who served in RCB throughout this time were deployed to the Royal Malaysian Air Force base during civil unrest in the country stemming from the Malayan Communist Party, with a peace treaty signed with the Communist Party in 1989.
[Related: Rifle Company Butterworth marks 50-year anniversary]
