When did Australia stop sending conscripts to Vietnam?

Conscription ended in December 1972, and the remaining seven men in Australian prisons for refusing conscription were freed in mid-to-late December 1972. 63,735 national servicemen served in the Army, of whom 15,381 were deployed to Vietnam. Approximately 200 were killed.

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When did Australia stop sending troops to Vietnam?

The decision to withdraw Australian troops was made in July 1971 and a withdrawal timetable of October and December 1971 was established.

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Did Australian conscripts have to go to Vietnam?

In 1964, the National Service Act introduced a scheme of selective conscription in Australia, designed to create an army of 40,000 full-time soldiers. Many of them were sent on active service to the war in Vietnam.

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When did Australia last conscript?

As noted, conscription was abolished by law in 1973. But the Defence Act 1903 as amended retained a provision that it could be reintroduced by proclamation of the Governor-General. Potentially all Australian residents between the ages of 18 and 60 could be called up in this way.

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How many Australian conscripts were sent to Vietnam?

15,381 conscripted national servicemen served from 1965 to 1972, sustaining 202 killed and 1,279 wounded.

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Ex Veteran Describes The Process Of Conscription

21 related questions found

Who was conscripted for Vietnam War Australia?

Vietnam War. In 1964, compulsory national service for 20-year-old males was introduced under the National Service Act 1964.

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Can conscription come back in Australia?

conscription was abolished by law in 1973. But the Defence Act 1903 as amended retained a provision that it could be reintroduced by proclamation of the Governor-General. Potentially all Australian residents between the ages of 18 and 60 could be called up in this way.

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Which prime minister ended conscription in Australia?

Whitlam had described conscription as intolerable, and one of the earliest accomplishments of his government was the granting of exemptions from conscription for all Australians.

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Does conscription still exist in Australia?

No. The Australian Defence Force does not conscript and there has been no conscription since 1972.

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Has Australia ever done conscription?

The Australian Government introduced compulsory military training again in 1951, during the Korean War, but it was abolished eight years later. A new national service scheme was controversially introduced in 1964, and in 1965 Australia sent conscripts to fight in the Vietnam War (1964–75). This was abolished in 1972.

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How long did conscripts have to serve in Vietnam?

Only 20-25% of draftees served in Vietnam. The rest were either stationed stateside or sent to Europe to free up volunteer soldiers to serve in Vietnam. Conscription was for 2 years. The first year was for Basic Training followed by Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training at a branch School.

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How many conscripts died in Vietnam?

Those who served and died in Vietnam

804,286 20-year-olds registered for national service. 63,735 national servicemen served in the Army. 15,381 served in Vietnam.

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Were there conscripts in Vietnam?

Conscription in Vietnam has existed since 1975 and requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 (18 to 27 for those who attend colleges or universities) to perform compulsory military service. Women are not required to perform military service, but they may voluntarily join the military.

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What birthdays were drafted in Vietnam Australia?

Men included in the ballot who were born in the period 1 July 1946 to 31 December 1946. Men included in the ballot who were born prior to 1 July 1946 but were absent from Australia when their age group was required to register.

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Who removed troops from Vietnam?

Richard Nixon, the new U.S. president, began U.S. troop withdrawal and “Vietnamization” of the war effort that year, but he intensified bombing.

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Who was the first Australian soldier killed in Vietnam?

The questions arise from the Army announcement in Canberra today that Private Errol Wayne Noack, 21, single, of Gilberton, South Australia, had been killed - the first Australian National Serviceman to be killed in action in Vietnam.

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Can you refuse conscription?

A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion.

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Why were Australian soldiers called chocolate soldiers?

Chocolate Soldier is an expression referring to a good-looking but useless warrior, popularised by George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play Arms and the Man.

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How many Australian volunteers and career soldiers went to serve in Vietnam?

From the time of the arrival of the first members of the Team in 1962 almost 60,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, served in Vietnam; 521 died as a result of the war and over 3,000 were wounded.

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What age was conscription in Australia Vietnam?

Selective conscription meant that a certain number of 20-year-old Australian men would be chosen to serve in the Australian army. The process for choosing them was similar to a lottery. Numbered marbles, each representing a day of the year, were placed in a barrel.

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Who stopped National Service in Australia?

The Australian Labor Party consistently opposed it and was committed to recalling troops from Vietnam. With the election of an ALP government in December 1972, Prime Minister Whitlam announced the end of peace time conscription as one of his government's first administrative decisions.

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What date did conscription end?

Ending in 1963

In November 1960 the last men entered service, as call-ups formally ended on 31 December 1960, and the last National Servicemen left the armed forces in May 1963.

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What happens if you refused conscription?

Those who had been rejected were forcibly enlisted in a combatant Corps, although some could opt to join the Royal Army Medical Corps. If the Objector refused to don the uniform and cooperate he would be sent to prison where the conditions were harsh.

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Why did Australia oppose conscription in the Vietnam War?

The public felt that Australian men should not be conscripted and sent overseas, they should be used for home defence only. The Vietnam War was the first time Australian conscripts were sent abroad in peace time. Early protests against conscription were held by religious groups and the Communist Party of Australia.

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Why did Australia have to conscript men for military service?

One of the first pieces of legislation passed by the new Commonwealth government after Federation was the Defence Act 1903, which provided for the raising of an Australian army. The Act established the government's right to conscript men for the purpose of self-defence in the event of war.

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