Member of the Interim Forces

A member of the Interim Forces is a person who enlisted or re-engaged, for continuous full-time service [3] for not more than two years on or after 1 July 1947 and before 1 July 1949 to the Interim forces, or a unit of the defence forces.    

Eligible war service

Service with the Interim Forces entitles a veteran to claim for a disability pension but not a service pension.    

A veteran who served after 29 October 1945 has qualifying service [3] if they were awarded or are eligible to be awarded the:

•    Naval General Service Medal, or
•    General Service Medal (Army and Royal Air Force).     More ? [11]

These medals must have one of the following clasps:

• Mine-sweeping 1945-51
• Bomb-mine Clearance 1945-53
• Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-49
• Bomb and Mine Clearance 1945-56

Description

The British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF) were formed after the formal surrender of Japan and comprised personnel from the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand, India and the United Kingdom. BCOF's primary role was to ensure that the terms of the unconditional surrender of Japan were met. Service for Australian personnel extended from 13 February 1946 to 28 April 1952 (both dates included).    

Operational service

A member of the permanent defence force who served in the BCOF in Japan has operational service up to the earliest of:

• 1 July 1951, or
• the day on which they arrived back in Australia.    More → [17]

Qualifying service

Service solely with BCOF (Japan) is not qualifying service [3]. The Japanese forces had surrendered and there was no longer an enemy [3].

Treatment under the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests and British Commonwealth Occupation Force (Treatment) Act 2006

Any period of service in Japan as part of BCOF from 31 January 1946 to 28 April 1952 gives entitlement to a Gold Card under that Act.

Introduction

This topic covers qualifying service [3] and operational service [3] for the Korean hostilities, as well as, service in the Demilitarised Zone after the ending of the Australian commitment.    

Qualifying service

To have qualifying service for a service pension a Korean veteran must have:

• been allotted for duty [3] in the operational area either individually or as a member of a unit, and
• served in the operational area to which the person was allotted.     More ? [24]

Operational service

To have operational service, for disability pension [3], a Korean veteran must have:

• been allotted for duty [3] in an operational area either individually or as a member of a unit, and
• served in the operational area to which the person was allotted, or
• between 28 April 1952 and 19 April 1956 (both dates included) served in Japan although their unit was allotted for duty in connection with the Korean Conflict.     More ? [25]

Operational service in the demilitarised zone

Defence force personnel continued to serve in Korea after 19 April 1956. Personnel were employed in a non-operational role as it was considered service had returned to normal peacetime conditions.

The exception to this was service as military observers in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Such service in the DMZ is classified as Operational Service but not Qualifying Service.    

Introduction

Between 1950 and 1967 Australia was involved in two conflicts in what is now known as the Federation of Malaysia. These were:

• the Malayan Emergency, and
• the Indonesian confrontation of Malaysia.     More ? [37]

Qualifying service

To have qualifying service for a service pension [3] a Malaya veteran must have:

• been allotted for duty [3] in an operational area either individually or as a member of a unit, and
• served in the operational area to which the person was allotted.     More ? [38]

Members not allotted

Not all members of the forces who served in the Malayan Emergency or Indonesian Confrontation were allotted. Consequently not all have qualifying service [3].

Operational service

Operational service in respect of the Malayan Emergency, and Indonesian Confrontation is service as a member of the Defence Force who, or a member of a unit of the Defence Force that:

• was assigned for service in Singapore at any time during the period from and including 29 June 1950 to and including 31 August 1957, or
• was at any time during the period from and including 1 August 1960 and including 27 May 1963, in the area comprising the territory of Singapore and or the Federation of Malaya, or
• served in an operational area as a person allotted for duty, or a member of a unit that was allotted for duty, in that operational area.

Service Outside Australia in Non-Operational Areas

Sub-section 13(6) [39] of the VEA provides for claims in respect of death or incapacity to be accepted in limited circumstances where the person did not render operational service in an operational area. This provision was introduced in 1962 at the time that top secret operations were being conducted in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) by the Australian Special Air Service Regiment during the period of confrontation with Indonesia.

Because Australia retained diplomatic links with Indonesia throughout this period, Indonesian territory could not be included within the operational area.

The provision provides Repatriation benefits to members of a SAS patrol which, in late May/early June 1965, was attacked by a rogue elephant while operating in Kalimantan. One of the group was badly gored and died before help could be summoned. If a claim is lodged by a member of the patrol and the service documents do not show details of injury or disease at the time of the person's service against hostile forces, further information should be sought from the relevant source.

Introduction

This topic covers the requirements for operational service [3] and qualifying service [3] in the Vietnam hostilities, as well as the recognised periods of service before and after Australia's involvement in the hostilities.    

Qualifying service

To have qualifying service for a service pension [3] a Vietnam veteran must have:

• been allotted for duty [3] in an operational area either individually or as a member of a unit, and
• served in the operational area to which the person was allotted.     More ? [46]

Operational service

To have operational service for a disability pension [3], a Vietnam veteran must have:

• been allotted for duty [3] in an operational area either individually or as a member of a unit, and
• served in the operational area to which the person was allotted.

Operational service - January 1962

Before the commencement of Australia's operational involvement in Vietnam, the HMAS Vampire and HMAS Quickmatch visited Saigon on 25-29 January 1962. The period of the visit is classified as operational service but not qualifying service.    

Service after 11 January 1973

Australia's operational presence in Vietnam officially ended on 11 January 1973. Following this date:

• the Australian Embassy Guard Platoon served until mid 1973, and
• RAAF personnel were operating in the months leading to the fall of Saigon.

Members of the defence force who served in Vietnam from 12 January 1973 to 29 April 1975 have warlike service and consequently operational and qualifying service.

Taken to have been allotted for duty

The determinations made to date cover the following members of the Defence Force:

• the crews of RAN ships involved in transporting troops and other support duties;
• members of the Defence Force who visited the area for the purpose of:

• staff visits,
• inspections,
• public relations,
• familiarisation,
• welfare visits,
• attache duties;

• members of the RAN who crewed the MV JEPARIT;
• members of various RAAF units;
• aircrew of the Australian Air Force Detachment, Sangley Point;
• specified members of the RAN Reserve. (not allotted for duty in an operational area)

Among the Defence Personnel providing welfare services were members of the various military bands.

The service documents of these people should indicate that they have been deemed to be on full-time service and/or deemed to be allotted for duty in an operational service. If there is any discrepancy between what the claimant is contending and the official records, further advice should be obtained from the relevant service.

Philanthropic Organisations

Determinations have been made in respect of representatives of the following approved philanthropic organisations, who provided welfare services to the Defence Force, that they were members of the Defence Force rendering continuous full-time service in an operational area:

• the Australian Red Cross Society;
• the Campaigners for Christ - Everyman's Welfare Service;
• the Salvation Army;
• the Young Women's Christian Association of Australia;
• the Young Men's Christian Association of Australia;
• the Australian Forces Overseas Fund.

If claims are received from any of these, full details of the service should be obtained from the claimant. It may be necessary to verify the situation with the Soldier Career Management Agency.     

Civilians not covered

Compensation benefits for civilians in Vietnam is determined solely on the basis of their employment. For example, medical and surgical teams provided under a SEATO aid program were given salary, travel expenses and accommodation by the Australian Government and were subject to general Public Service terms and conditions of employment. They and other civilians employed by the Australian Government but who did not serve directly in support of the Defence Force in Vietnam are covered by the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA).

Members of the SEATO medical teams are eligible for a Gold Card under the Treatment Benefits (Special Access) Act 2019, but are not eligible for benefits under the VEA and are not considered to have rendered Qualifying Service.

Official entertainers' who toured Vietnam under the auspices of the Australian Defence Force are not covered under the VEA. However, depending on the terms of their contracts, they may have coverage under the SRCA.

Independent concert parties or entertainers are not covered under either Act. Nor are journalists working for Australian newspapers or Australians working as civilians for the US Army.

Introduction

This topic contains information on the following:

• North East Thailand
• Namibia 
• Persian Gulf War
• Cambodia 
• The former Yugoslavia
• Somalia
• East Timor      More ? [56]

North East Thailand.

Personnel who served in North East Thailand at any time between 31 May 1962 to 24 June 1965 (both dates included) have operational service.     

Namibia - United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG)

Australian defence force [3] members who served in Namibia between 18 February 1989 and 10 April 1990 (both dates included) have operational service. Members of UNTAG who were members of a force allotted for duty [3] in Namibia have qualifying service.

Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)

Australian defence force members who were allotted for duty [3] and served in the operational areas for the Persian Gulf War have both qualifying and operational service.     

Cambodia (1991-1993)

Australian defence force members who were allotted for duty and served in the operational areas for Cambodia have both qualifying and operational service.

Australians allotted for duty may have been with:

• United Nations Advanced Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC), or
• United Nations Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).

The former Yugoslavia (1992 - 1997)

Australian defence force [3] members who were allotted for duty with Australian contingents of the United Nations forces and served in the area comprising the former Yugoslavia have both qualifying and operational service.

Somalia (1992-1994)

Australian defence force members who were allotted for duty and served with the Australian contingents of the United Nations forces in Somalia have both qualifying and operational service.

East Timor (1999 ongoing)

Australian personnel, including official war artists, who served as part of a defence (ADF) or police (AFP) operation since 19 June 1999, have been covered for disability pension [3]. In addition, defence personnel who served in East Timor after 19 September 1999 as part of an operation, which has been declared as warlike service by signed Instrument, are also eligible for a service pension [3]. ADF personnel must be allotted to and serve in East Timor, not simply be allotted to an operation because they may have served only in Darwin or Townsville.