INTERFET Brassard : Captain K M Sturtevant, 1 Health Support Battalion, INTERFET

Australian Military Forces INTERFET dark green cloth brassard. The brassard has an embroidered Australian flag badge at the top. Below this is a curved title embroidered in white with `INTERFET', above a circular blue and yellow badge. 'INTERNATIONAL FORCE EAST TIMOR / PEACE' is in a yellow ring around the edge of the badge and in the middle is the green shape of Timor on a blue background. Superimposed on this is the white outline of a peace dove carrying an olive branch. The brassard has a tape strap at the top which is designed to fit around an epaulette and the bottom is secured with Velcro behind the wearer's arm.

Green brassard issued to Captain Kristy Michelle Sturtevant while deployed in East Timor as part of the International Force East Timor in 1999-2000. On 15 September 1999 the UN Security Council authorised a multi-national peace enforcement mission in East Timor (INTERFET), to restore peace and security and to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts. 7000 troops led by Australia secured East Timor, with the exception of the Oecusse enclave – which was secured in mid-October 1999. International relief efforts were put in place and displaced people were permitted to return to their communities. Indonesian forces were withdrawn from East Timor. On 20 October 1999 the Indonesian Parliament resolved to formally ratify East Timor’s separation from Indonesia allowing the UN Security Council to approve the establishment of a UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). According to the nationality of the service member in INTERFET, the corresponding national flag was fitted to the top of the brassard. Captain Sturtevant was a Registered Nurse serving with the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps. She had served in Bougainville, as part of the Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) from April to August 1998 with the Bougainville Combined Health Element based at Loloho. She served in East TImor from September 1999 to February 2000 with the Field Surgery Team (FST) Heavy, which was part of the 1st Field Hospital based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney. During her time in East Timor, she was promoted from lieutenant to captain, and her unit at the time, the 1st Field Hospital changed its title to the 1st Health Support Battalion.