INTRODUCTION
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been involved in peacekeeping since 1947. The mission in 1947 is known as the first peacekeeping operation conducted using Military Observers, that being the United Nations Good Offices Commission to Indonesia (UNCI). UNCI saw the first ever peacekeepers deployed, in which Army Brigadier (L.G.H Dyke (RAA)), RAN Officer Commander H.S. Chesterman, Army Major D.L. Campbell, and RAAF Officer Squadron Leader D.T. Spence, DFC are noted as the first Australians and first ever UN peacekeepers. The Australian commitment of this mission was up to 45 Military Observer Officers.
Since UNCI, the ADF has been extensively involved in UN & Multinational missions. Of a recent note, 1550 ADF personnel are now involved in the War Against Terror, operating in the Middle East, South West Asia and Afghanistan. The Tempo of UN & Multinational Operations has notably increased, since the first large deployment of Engineer Troops to South West Africa in 1989. ADF personnel have been called upon on a number of occasions over the past 15 years to support UN & Multinational Operations throughout the world. The deeds of the Australian Service personnel is outstanding, and certainly promotes the capabilities of the Australian service person in confusing, dangerous and hostile environments.
DEFINITIONS
Operations and Missions are classified as Warlike, Non-warlike or Peacetime. The definitions for these classifications are explained on the Department of Defence website.
MISSIONS
Each mission is listed by the year in which Australia commenced its participation. The information provided is as correct as possible.
UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): 1949 - 1985
UN Commission on Korea (UNCOK): 1950 - 1950
UN Command - Korea (UNC-K): 1950 - 1956
UN Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC): 1953 - Present
UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) Op Paladin: 1956 - Present
UN Observer Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL): 1958
United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC): 1960 - 1964
United Nations Yemen Observer Mission (UNYOM): 1963 - 1964
UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): 1964 - Present
UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission (UNIPOM): 1965 - 1966
United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF): 1974 – Present
UN Emergency Force Two (UNEF II): 1973 - 1979
Commonwealth Monitoring Force, Rhodesia (CMFR) Op Agila: 1979 - 1980
Australian Army Contingent –
The Commonwealth Military Training Team, Uganda (CMTTU): 1982 - 1984
Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) Op Mazurka: 1982 - Present
UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG): 1988 - 1991
UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG): 1989 - 1990
UN Mine Clearance Training Team Peshwar (UNMCTT) Op Salaam: 1989 - 1993
First Maritime Interception Force (MIF 1) Op Damask I & II: 1990 - 1991
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Operations - Pacific Region: 1990 -
Multinational Forces in Iraq - Kuwait (MNF (I-K)): 1991
International Kurdish Relief Operation Op Habitat: 1991
UN Advanced Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) Op Goodwill: 1991 - 1992
UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) Op Gemini: 1991 - 1993
UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Op Cedilla: 1991 - 1994
UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) Op Blazer: 1991 - 1998
Second Maritime Interception Force (MIF II) Op Damask III: 1991 - 2003
UN Protection Force in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia (UNPROFOR): 1992
NATO Interim Force (IFOR) & NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia Op Osier & Agricola: 1992 -
First UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM I) Op Iguana: 1992 - 1993
Unified Task Force in Somalia (UNITAF) Op Solace: 1992 - 1993
Second UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II): 1993 - 1994
Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC): 1993 - 1997
United Status Forces in Haiti (UNMIH): 1994
South Pacific Peacekeeping Force (SPPKF) Op Lagoon: 1994
The United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR II) Op Tamar: 1994 - 1995
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) Op Coracle: 1994 -
United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA): 1997
PNG Drought Relief Op Ples Drai: 1997
Truce Monitoring Group and Peace Monitoring Group – Bougainville Operation Bel-Isi (I & II): 1997 -
Multinational Military Deployment – KUWAIT Op Pollard: 1998
NATO Force in Kosovo (KFOR): 1999 -
UN Advance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) Op Faber: 1999
International Peace Monitoring Team (IPMT) – Solomon Islands Op Plumbob & Trek: 2000 - 2003
The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) Op Pamelo: 2001 -
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Op Husky: 2001 -
Australian Contingent – The War on Terrorism (Afghanistan): 2001 -
SUMMARY
Missions / Operations contributed by Australian Defence and Police Forces: 56 (to be revised)
Countries: 56 (to be revised)
Total Military personnel: Approximately 46,000 personnel (to be revised)Table of ADF Peacekeeping/Peacemaking Operations (with Police) since 1947 to the Present (as at 5 Jan 2010)
Total Killed in Action or Killed / Died on duty: 375 (to be revised), Including the Korean War and Military dogs. Exempted: Malayan Emergency, the Confrontation with Indonesia and the Vietnam War.
This summary does not include details of the Rifle Company, RAAF Base Butterworth Malaysia, from 1958 to the present (120 personnel on 4 month tours of duty = approx 15,840 personnel).
Figures are an approximate appreciation of the mission, time served and personnel deployed.
SOURCES
Australian Department of Defence – www.defence.gov.au
Australian Honours - www.itsanhonour.com.au
Australian Attorney General's Office - www.ag.gov.au/govgazette
Department of Veterans' Affairs - www.dva.gov.au
UN Peacekeeping - www.un.org
NATO – www.nato.org
PRIMARY RESEARCHERS
David Vinen, Dale Potter and Paul Copeland, OAM.