February 14 - Nation Service Day 

On 14 February we come together to commemorate National Service Day. Across the country, over 500,000 men registered and we remember and pay tribute to the more than 280,000 young Australian men, who answered the call between 1951 and 1972. They shaped the nation’s defence history and left an enduring legacy of service. National Service in Australia was introduced during times of global uncertainty and regional conflict and occurred in two separate periods.

 

National Service Training Scheme (1951–1959), required all 18 year old males to register and undertake 3–6 months of full-time military training, followed by part-time service in the Naval Reserve, Citizen Military Force, or Citizen Air Force. This scheme aimed to bolster Australia’s defence capability during the Cold War. This was followed by the National Service Scheme (1965–1972) which was reintroduced amid escalating tensions in Southeast Asia, this scheme used a birthday ballot system to select 20-year-old men for two years of full-time service in the Australian Regular Army, with obligations for overseas deployment. Many served in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea. Over 19,000 Nashos fought in Vietnam, and more than 200 lost their lives in active service.

 

RSL Member Ron Teusner recalled, “I was proud to be involved in training National Servicemen for a period and saw both those who embraced the training or just accepted that it was a job they had to do”. For those conscripted, affectionately known as “Nashos”, National Service was a defining chapter. It fostered camaraderie and resilience, but also disrupted careers and family life. While some embraced the sense of duty, others faced hardship and tragedy. The schemes remain a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during a turbulent period in world history. Their legacy continues to inspire future generations to serve with courage and integrity,

‘Lest we forget’.

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Photographs belong to the original owners; copyright Brian Rowe, Fiona Morrison, the Australian War Memorial, The National Servicemen's Association of Australia

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For further reading please see then link below for the Australian War memorial

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/viet_app

https://www.monumentaustralia.org/.../51504-port-elliot...

https://nashonomroll.org/f_nominalroll2.asp