Defence Force chief calls on top officers to hand back honours and medals

Defence chief has called on his top officers from the Afghanistan conflict to hand back their medals claiming lack of distinguished service, sparking outrage.

Exclusive: Australian Defence Force chief General Angus Campbell has demanded some of his most senior officers surrender their honours and medals related to service in Afghanistan.

The stunning about-face move against his top brass follows the release of the damning Brereton report in November 2020 into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by Australia’s Special Forces.

None of the top officers were believed to have been implicated or included in the adverse findings against 39 soldiers involved in 23 incidents currently the subject of a criminal police investigation.

But the latest move now signals that ultimately all levels of those in leadership positions have to bear some form of accountability for what has been an internationally condemned behaviour by some of Australia’s elite forces.

Chief of the Australian Defence Force General Angus Campbell delivers the findings from the Brereton Inquiry on alleged war crimes, November 19, 2020. Picture: Mick Tsikas

News Corp Australia understands the demand was issued to officers in command positions from captains to brigadier level in recent days, calling on them to hand back honours and awards including the Distinguished Service Medal.

Most were attached to the SAS Regiment and/or in the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG).

They have been given 28 days to provide notice on whether they considered their service to have been “distinguished”, specifically in the wake of allegations related to claims made in the defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith. This included evidence of alcohol drinking.

Australian Army soldiers from Special Operations Task Group welcome local Afghan government officials to a ‘shura’ (town meeting) to discuss security in the Gizab area of Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan, in April 2010. Picture: Department of Defence

It is understood Gen Campbell has told his hierarchy he was prepared to go to the Governor-General to develop a mechanism whereby honours, awards and medals could be removed if officers chose not to give them up.

A Defence spokesperson declined to comment directly to questions related to those top officers, whom News Corp has chosen not to name, or how many troops this may now affect.

Last year, then Defence Minister Peter Dutton blocked the decision by the Defence Chief to strip unit citations from up to 3000 Special Forces post the release of the damning Brereton war crimes inquiry.

But that notification changed along with the change of government in May this year.

Supplied Images of redacted pages in the Afghanistan war crimes report

“In June 2021, the then Minister for Defence (Dutton) wrote to the CDF directing him to suspend any consideration of administrative action in relation to personnel who held command positions in the period within the scope of the Afghanistan Inquiry (2005 to 2016),” a Defence spokesperson said on Friday.

“Consequently, the CDF suspended his consideration of administrative action relating to command accountability. The Government has confirmed the CDF may recommence his consideration of administrative action for command accountability related to the Afghanistan Inquiry.

“To protect the privacy and support the welfare of our people, Defence will not comment on the circumstances of individuals,” the spokesperson said.

An Australian Army soldier from Special Operations Task Group keeps watch from the back of a Bushmaster during a mounted patrol near Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. Picture: Department of Defence

The action has caused some disquiet among our elite troops who fear all will again be shamed into returning honours despite no direct involvement in matters currently being investigated by the Office of the Special Investigator.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one former elite soldier said the move has caused outrage in the ranks.

“Yup this has caused outrage at all levels (ranks), some of the guys are not even in service anymore and have been asked to come in and see the CDF to which they’ve said ‘f**k off’,” they said.

“He has told them he had to show government he was doing something about this discipline issues related to conduct like drinking (alcohol).”

Originally published as Defence Force chief calls on top officers to hand back honours and medals