In the early 1960s, South Vietnam faced serious challenges. The government was struggling against a growing communist insurgency, losing control of rural areas, and dealing with unrest at home. To help, South Vietnam asked for support from the United States (US) and Australia. Both offered civil and military aid. Australia’s assistance was limited but demonstrated loyalty to the US, its closest ally. The US wanted to avoid appearing to replace French colonial rule with its own, so involving countries like Australia made it look more like a joint international effort.
Australia first sent 30 military advisers to South Vietnam, led by Colonel F.P. 'Ted' Serong. This group, called the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), gave Australia a foothold in the country and put the 'Forward Defence' idea into practice - dealing with threats overseas rather than waiting for them to reach Australia.
About the AATTV
Colonel Serong arrived in Saigon, South Vietnam's capital, on 31 July 1962.
The first AATTV group landed in South Vietnam on 3 August 1962. It was just 30 men – officers, sergeants, and warrant officers – led by Colonel Serong.
This small team marked the start of Australia’s ten-year involvement in the Vietnam War.
AATTV members served in South Vietnam for 12 months, with the option to stay another 6 months.
Over ten years, the AATTV grew in size and ranks, reaching 224 members in 1971, just before Australia began to withdraw.
From the start, AATTV members were split into groups and sent across the country. Some worked with the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN), others with local people in remote mountains, some with the Civil Guard protecting key sites, others with elite Ranger units, and some with American teams training militias and running the Phoenix Program against the Vietcong.
Until 1964, AATTV members weren’t allowed to join the troops they trained on missions, a rule that didn’t work in practice and hurt their reputation. Once this changed, they often saw more fighting than most other Australian units in Vietnam.
By 1965, AATTV advisers went on patrols with South Vietnamese units and helped defend bases. Though officially trainers, they often took the lead and showed their skills in battle.
For many in the AATTV, serving in Vietnam was lonely. They usually worked alone or in pairs within mostly American teams attached to Vietnamese units. Because they were spread out, Australia had a presence across the country and could see what was happening beyond Phuoc Tuy, where most Australians served.
As Australia and the US began withdrawing, the AATTV once again focused on training Vietnamese units to fight on their own. The last AATTV members left South Vietnam on 18 December 1972, just over 10 years after the first arrived.
During its time in Vietnam, the AATTV became Australia’s most decorated unit of the war. Its members earned 4 Victoria Crosses and many other awards from Australia, the US and South Vietnam, mostly for bravery in battle, but some for helping the local people.