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The Australian Defence Force is supporting ongoing United Nations peacekeeping and humanitarian missions by backing Vietnam’s contributions to the mission in South Sudan.
The Royal Australian Air Force is utilising a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft to deploy a Vietnamese military field hospital to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The Globemaster departed Ho Chi Minh City for Juba, South Sudan on 2 October.
This support is being provided as part of Australia’s ongoing Defence Cooperation Program with Vietnam, which has supported Vietnam’s peacekeeping capability since 2011.
Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Major General Greg Bilton, who attended the farewell ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on 1 October 2018, said the deployment was an important part of the Defence Cooperation Program between the two nations.
"By providing this strategic air lift capability to the Vietnamese People’s Army, the ADF is not just supporting the UN Mission, but also enhancing military-to-military interoperability within the region," MAJGEN Bilton said.
An ADF contingent of up to 25 personnel are currently deployed to the UNMISS, known as Operation ASLAN.
"Alongside the C-17, the ADF is also providing Vietnam with specialist peacekeeping and English language skills training," said MAJGEN Bilton.
The personnel include a number of UNMISS headquarters staff officer positions, aviation and logistics support roles and a military liaison officer position.
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