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Heres something to tinkle your tonsils. What is our Govt doing for our people? 28 Apr 06
Kevin Robinson Ex RNZN (
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) has advised us of what is happening regarding the Australian Defence Force 4 years service medal. Here is a link to the details
11 Jul 2004 MINASSIST34/04
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEDAL
The Australian Government has received notification of ‘in principle’ approval by the Queen for the establishment of the Australian Defence Medal for members of the ADF who have provided six years service in the Nation’s defence.
The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mal Brough, said that the Government was on track to call for applications by eligible serving and ex-service men and women by the end of the year.
"We will be following the appropriate processes and protocols under the Australian Honours and Awards System and once that is complete we can call for applications and we hope to commence issuing medals by mid 2005," Mr Brough said.
Mr Brough said that he appreciated the comments of support from the Returned and Services League, a number of ex-service organisations, the New Medal group, who had been working for such recognition, as well as a considerable number of serving and ex-serving people who had called his office seeking details.
"A service Medal of this nature is a first for Nations with Honours and Awards based on the Imperial system. So it was important that we not only recognised service, but did so in a way that did not diminish the value of Medals, particularly those earned on operational service," Mr Brough said.
Media Contacts:
David Moore (Minister Brough) 0417 774 724
Defence Media Liaison 0408 498 664
and
THE HON MAL BROUGH MP
MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
MINISTER ASSISTING THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEDIA RELEASE
Saturday, 26 June 2004 MINASSIST 031/04
MEDAL TO RECOGNISE SERVICE IN DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA
The Howard Government has today announced the intention to establish a new medal that recognises volunteer service in the Australian Defence Force.
All relevant approvals are now being sought to allow the award of this medal.
The Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mal Brough, said those who had served for a total of six years in the Australian Defence Force, regular or reserve, would be eligible and the medal would be backdated to recognise past service.
“The Australian Defence Medal also reflects the fact that when serving in a modern Defence Force, it becomes difficult to discriminate between those who serve directly on operations and those who support those operations.”
“The Australian Defence Medal reflects the fact that by serving in the Australian Defence Force individuals make a contribution to the national interest, whether they served the country on operations, or whether they remained in Australia in a support role.”
“The war on terrorism has redefined the notions of a frontline or even an easily definable Area of Operations.”
“Some tasks undertaken by soldiers, sailors and airmen remain invisible to the community at large but are very important to our nation’s defence. These may include preparation and planning, intelligence and, indeed, other classified activities that for national security reasons can’t be recognised by a specific award.”
“The Australian Defence Medal will recognise all of these circumstances of service.”
Mr Brough said the Australian Defence Medal would be retrospective from the end of World War Two, in order to recognise that many people in the past had served their nation in a variety of forms, sometimes arduous, but had not been recognised by an operational medal. However, those who completed National Service would not be eligible unless they subsequently volunteered and completed the requisite six years volunteer service.
“Six years reflects a length of time that we could be reasonably certain that most people would have completed the requisite training and experience in the Regular or Reserve forces, to be considered fully deployable should they have been called upon,” Mr Brough said
“We believe these conditions also give effect to a motion from the Returned and Services League who agree with our desire to further recognise ADF service.”
“The implementation of the medal will be a significant undertaking and the issue of medals to past servicemen will take time. It is estimated that up to 400,000 ex-servicemen and women may apply for this medal,” Mr Brough said. “It is anticipated that once a design has been finalised and the medals have been struck, the issuing of medals could begin around middle of 2005.”
“Operational and other demanding overseas service will still be recognised under the current arrangements. Processing and issuing of operational awards will take priority as the new Australian Defence Medal is being implemented.
“Nonetheless, the Australian Defence Medal provides the Government and the Australian people the ability to recognise those service men and women who do volunteer and serve the flag in a variety of roles and are prepared, should the call come, to put their lives on the line,” Mr Brough said.
Media Contacts:
David Moore (Mr Brough’s office) 0417 774 724
Defence Media Liaison 0408 498 664
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