Australian Defence Force personnel who recently completed a six-month deployment on Operation Linesmen say their work in the Korean demilitarised zone (DMZ) contributed to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.
Operation Linesmen integrates across United Nations Command (UNC) and the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC) to uphold the armistice agreement, which suspended Korean War hostilities in 1953.
Australian Army Captain Matthew Riles, who commanded the Australian contingent, said his 'tri-hatted' role as UNC mine action staff officer, and UNC plans and operations engineer, involved explosive hazard awareness training, infrastructure construction and inspections and investigations in the DMZ.
"Representing the ADF in the Republic of Korea was truly special, and I'm proud of the individual and collective contributions of Operation Linesmen," Captain Riles said.
Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Meg Magnuson said she was a "jack of all trades" in the UNCMAC operations cell.
"I was involved in inspections across the DMZ, training in the Han River Estuary, and defector interviews," Petty Officer Magnuson said.
"When not out on inspections I assisted in processing DMZ access requests and construction tasks."
She said she was honoured to represent Australia and serve with personnel and civilians from nations including South Korea, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Denmark.
Australian Army Sergeant Michael Hook said the deployment was "a unique and challenging experience".
Apart from managing education and orientation programs, and controlling access to the Military Armistice Commission Headquarters Area, he performed duties in the 'joint duty officer shack' where the UNC communicates twice a day with the Korean People's Army.
"I'm proud to have been the only ADF member of the contingent to speak directly with the KPA," Sergeant Hook said.
