5.3.1 General Principles

Eligibility based on service in Japan, Korea Demilitarised Zone, and North East Thailand (including Ubon) follows a review of anomalies in Repatriation benefits in respect of various groups of veterans with overseas service since the Second World War.  Members who served in these areas within the dates specified in the VEA Determinations were exposed to hazards of an operational or warlike nature beyond those of normal peacetime duty.

An eligible person therefore, is a person who, as a member of the Defence Force, was assigned for service in:

• Japan at any time during the period from and including 28 April 1952 to and including 19 April 1956; or

(see Determinations at Eligibility GO 5.3.2 — Japan and Japan (HMAS Vengeance))

• North East Thailand (including Ubon) at any time during the period from and including 31 May 1962 to and including 24 June 1965

(see Determinations at Eligibility GO 5.3.2 — North Eastern Thailand);

• (for service 25 June 1965 to 31 August 1968 see Eligibility GO 8A.3.2 — Warlike Service)

An eligible person is also a person whose first service in the Defence Force began on or before 14 May 1985, and who, as a member of the Defence Force, was assigned for service:

• in the demilitarised zone between North Korea and South Korea after 18 April 1956; or

• on HMAS Vampire or Quickmatch in Vietnam during the period from and including 25 January 1962 to and including 29 January 1962;

Note:  The Korean DMZ has no end date as at January 2009.