ADF troops’ rescue role recognised
Medal for Kabul evacuation operation
HUNDREDS of Australian Defence Force soldiers who served in the evacuation mission after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan will receive the Australian Operational Service Medal after the eligibility criteria was changed.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton jetted into Townsville on Friday ahead of a ceremony to hand out 120 medals at Lavarack Barracks on Saturday.
The group of 120 soldiers are among a cohort of 400 who will receive the medal after Herbert MP Phil Thompson petitioned the minister and the Governor-general who agreed to waive criteria that stipulates recipients must spend 30 days in a war zone to qualify.
Mr Thompson, a former soldier, wrote to Mr Dutton in October to commend the bravery shown by Australian troops and requested ministerial intervention to temporarily waive the 30-day requirement for those involved in the rescue mission in Kabul.
“It is my strong belief that this successful rescue mission warrants medal recognition and we as a nation owe a great debt to our Australian Defence Force members for their selfless and honourable act,” he wrote.
Afghanistan’s capital Kabul fell into the hands of Taliban insurgents in August last year shortly after Australian and other international troops were withdrawn from the 20year military commitment to the country.
Thousands attempted to flee the country with more than 4000 citizens, residents and refugees given safe passage by Australian soldiers and staff from the departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Home Affairs.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Mr Thompson said the troops sent into Kabul deserved the commendation in recognition of going above and beyond during the humanitarian deployment.
He said despite pushback from some people inside the ADF he was happy to cut the red tape and push against bureaucracy to ensure their work was recognised.
“We sent Australian soldiers into the belly of the beast where they had to stare down the Taliban who we have been fighting for decades,” he said.
“This recognition is because they deserve it.
“There are rules and sometimes they are guarded with an iron fist, I wanted to ensure we could do some good here and recognise our soldiers.”
In a public statement Mr Dutton paid tribute to the 41 Australian lives lost during the decades-long war and said troops worked in a volatile environment in “extraordinary circumstances” to airlift people from Hamid Karzai Airport.
“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,” he said.
“We remember the ultimate sacrifice that was made by 41 Australian soldiers who died on operations in Afghanistan.”
WE SENT AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS INTO THE BELLY OF THE BEAST WHERE THEY HAD TO STARE DOWN THE TALIBAN
PHIL THOMPSON