Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Australian Army Training Team Vietnam | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | August 3, 1962 - December 19, 1972 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | counter-insurgency, Military education and training |
| Size | One regiment |
| Garrison/HQ | Saigon, Vietnam |
| Nickname | "The Team" "The Expendables" |
| Motto | "Persevere" |
| March | Quick - Slow - |
| Engagements | Battle of Duc Lap |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel F. P. Serong |
The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam was a specialist unit of the Australian Army that operated during the Vietnam War. The unit was raised in 1962 and consisted of approximately 30 officers and warrant officers. The unit's task was to train units of the army of South Vietnam. As the war escalated, so the size of the unit increased to approximately 100, with an area of operations stretching from the far south to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) forming the border between North and South Vietnam. Over time, members of the team were involved in many combat situations, often commanding formations of Vietnamese soldiers.
Because of its small size, and widespread area of operations, it was rare for the entire unit to be in the same place at the same time; this usually occurred only on ANZAC Day - the only other occasion the whole unit paraded together was when it received the Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Commander of the US Forces in Vietnam in 1970.
The AATTV had the longest tour of duty of any Australian unit in Vietnam, serving from 1962-1972, a total of ten years, four months and sixteen days. The unit also had the distinction of being the first Australian unit committed to Vietnam and the last to be withdrawn. Over the course of its service, a total of 1000 men served with the unit, consisting of 990 Australians and 10 New Zealanders. Of these, a total of 33 men were killed and 122 wounded. Amongst other decorations awarded, the unit received 4 Victoria Crosses:
