Today is National Servicemen’s Day, when we pause to remember more than 290,000 men who have served Australia through compulsory military service between 1951 and 1972. 

Australia’s National Servicemen, affectionately known as ‘Nashos’, played a unique and invaluable role in serving our country. 

Each year, on the 14th of February, we honour them on National Servicemen’s Day.

Most Australian men who turned 20 years of age were required to register in the National Service scheme of 1964-72. 

Twice a year, some of these men were called to serve through a random selection system depending on their birth date, known as the ‘birthday ballot’. 

More than 804,000 men registered, with more than 63,000 called to serve. 

More than 15,000 of them served in the Vietnam War, where some 200 lost their lives and more than 1,200 were wounded. 

Today we honour and thank all those National Servicemen who served and especially remember those who lost their lives in conflict. 

This year, Labor is calling on the Morrison-Joyce Government to formally recognise thousands of National Servicemen who fought in Vietnam with a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM), which was originally awarded by the former government of South Vietnam. 

Some 3,000 National Servicemen were not able to complete the qualifying period of 181 days that Australia requires for veterans to receive the RVCM, due solely to the conditions of their National Service.

These veterans sincerely believe they fought just as gallantly in defence of Australia’s national interests and our ally, the Republic of Vietnam, as those who completed 181 days of service, and deserve to be honoured in the same way.

The proposal to extend the RVCM to these former ‘Nashos’ has strong bipartisan and community support, including among Government MPs and Senators, veterans and ex-service organisations.  

Labor urges the Government to give these men the recognition they deserve and finally allow them to proudly wear the RVCM when they march alongside their mates on Anzac Day this year.