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The Australian Meritorious Unit Citation

The Australian Meritorious Unit Citation

Overview

The Australian Meritorious Unit Citation is awarded to a unit, for sustained outstanding service in warlike operations. The Honour comprises an award of a Certificate of Citation to the unit signed by the Australian Governor-General and insignia of the Citation worn by members of the unit.

The Meritorious Unit Citation was approved for introduction into the Australian Honours System on 15 January 1991.

To date there have been 24 Meritorious Unit Citations presented, including two awards to New Zealand Defence Force personnel. This citation was awarded to 3 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force for service in East Timor with the Australian-led International Force East Timor (INTERFET) and successive Australian and New Zealand battalions. The Force Communications Unit was awarded this citation for service in Cambodia in 1992 as Australia’s main contribution to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).

Description

The insignia of the Australian Meritorious Unit Citation is a ribbon bar sized badge, which is worn on the right breast. The badge consists of a rhodium plated sterling silver rectangular frame 32 millimetres wide and 15 millimetres deep surrounding a ribbon bar of old gold 28 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres deep with a design of flames emanating from the frame's outer edge to the centre.

  • 3 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force wear a rhodium-plated sterling silver Federation Star 7 millimetres in diameter in the centre of the badge.
  • Personnel subsequently posted to 3 Squadron wear the badge without the silver star and only while they are serving with the unit.
  • The Force Communications Unit Cambodia wears a rhodium-plated sterling silver Federation Star 7 millimetres in diameter in the centre of the badge. Because the Force Communications Unit ceased to exist on completion of the mission there is no current NZDF unit that is permitted to wear the badge without the silver star.

Eligibility

Criteria for the two awards presented to New Zealand Defence Personnel is as follows:

  • 3 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force - For service in East Timor between 20 September 1999 and 30 November 2002 as part of the Australian led International Force East Timor (INTERFET) and with successive Australian and New Zealand battalions.
  • The Force Communications Unit, Cambodia 1992-1993 - For 30 days service in Cambodia between 15 March 1992 and 7 October 1993. Awarded in 2014 to the Australian Defence Force personnel and offered by the Australian Government to the New Zealand Defence Force personnel who served in Cambodia in the Force Communications Unit.

Queries & requests

  • Wearing this citation

    The insignia of the Australian Meritorious Unit Citation is worn on the right breast.  This citation is not included in the New Zealand Order of Wear.

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Applying for this citation

    This citation is issued at the unit level to current serving personnel for temporary wear.

    Ex-serving personnel previously posted to the units approved for permanent wear can apply through our application page.

    Apply for unclaimed medals

  • Checking if this citation was issued

    Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record.  NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.

    Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by filling out the form on the Service Record page. 

    Request a service record