I am sure all of you who have ever served in or with the Big Blue One will be pleased to hear the great news regarding the recognition of Somalia Service for the 1RAR Battalion Group.
The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal has completed its Inquiry into Unit Recognition for Australian Defence Force Service in Somalia.
A response from Government in relation to the recommendations has not yet been received by the Tribunal.
A copy of the report is at this link.
INQUIRY INTO UNIT RECOGNITION FOR AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE SERVICE IN SOMALIA
Recommendations from the Inquiry Report are:
RECOMMENDATION 1: ASC I (1 to 31 May 1993), ASC II, ASC III and ASC IV to Operation IGUANA be awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation to recognise their service in Somalia.
RECOMMENDATION 2: The 1 RAR Battalion Group be awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for its service in Somalia.
RECOMMENDATION 3: HMAS Tobruk be awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for her service in Somalia.
RECOMMENDATION 4:
a) The Minister for Defence recommend to the Governor-General that service on Operation IGUANA from 17 October 1992 to 30 April 1993 be declared a warlike operation for the purposes of the Australian Active Service Medal; and
b) the Meritorious Unit Citation then be awarded to ASC I for service from 17 October 1992 to 30 April 1993.
RECOMMENDATION 5: No action be taken to award HMAS Jervis Bay the award of the Meritorious Unit Citation or any other form of further recognition for her service in Somalia.
RECOMMENDATION 6: No action be taken to award Force Elements of 33, 34, 36 and 37 Squadrons the award of the Meritorious Unit Citation or any other form of further recognition for their service in Somalia.
While the process is not technically complete yet, congratulations are in order for all involved in achieving this outcome. And bloody well deserved!
Please get the word out far and wide to everyone, even if you think they may know of this news. I expect the reunion at the Governor General’s house on 23 April 2023 will be a cracker!
Duty First,
Jim Masters, OAM
President
1RAR Association