National Service 1965-1972

A National Service scheme was reintroduced in 1965. The cause was both Government concerns with Australia's capacity to deal effectively with direct security concerns in the region. The Government doubted the Army's capability to deal with, in the worst case, any commitment to Vietnam, the Indonesian confrontation of Malaysia, or any conflict in Papua-New Guinea on the common border with Indonesia.¹⁵⁶

This period of national service involved, for most of the period, two years full-time duty. Selection was not universal but based on a selective system employing a ballot. The National Service Act provided for conscripts to be liable for overseas service.¹⁵⁷ Some conscripts did see service in Malaysia and Singapore, as well as Vietnam.

NATIONAL SERVICE 1965-1972
Indonesian Confrontation 1964-65	Vietnam War 1962-72
A National Service scheme was reintroduced in 1965. The cause was both Government concerns with Australia's capacity to deal effectively with direct security concerns in the region. The Government doubted the Army's capability to deal with, in the worst case, any commitment to Vietnam, the Indonesian confrontation of Malaysia, or any conflict in Papua-New Guinea on the common border with Indonesia.¹⁵⁶ This period of national service involved, for most of the period, two years full-time duty. Selection was not universal but based on a selective system employing a ballot. The National Service Act provided for conscripts to be liable for overseas service.¹⁵⁷ Some conscripts did see service in Malaysia and Singapore, as well as Vietnam.