Operation Salam Brassard: Captain Mark Willetts, United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team (UNMCTT)

Khaki cotton drill brassard with elastic strap adjustment for sleeve and 48 mm button hole to accept shoulder strap. On the upper section of the brassard is a green rectangular machine embroidered cotton patch. The patch has a gold border, and shows a jumping kangaroo above the word 'Australia'. The centre of the brassard has an 85 mm circular hand-embroidered cloth patch in green cotton fabric on a green felt backing. This badge is edged with a double row of gold bullion wire, and shows the words 'UNITED NATIONS' and 'OPERATION SALAM' in silver wire around a group of Arabic characters, also embroidered in silver wire.

Brassard worn by Captain Mark Willetts of the Australian Army, during his service with the United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team (UNMCTT) in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1991. UNMCTT, part of 'Operation Salaam', a multi-national aid program for Afghanistan, was a joint Australian and New Zealand force involved in training Afghani refugees in mine awareness, recognition and defusing. Australia contributed some ten teams of engineers (each of between six and nine instructors) to this project between 1989 and 1993. Training was initially undertaken in Pakistan only, but by 1991, instructors were able to plan and oversee work carried out within Afghanistan. Brassards such as this appear to have been worn on the right hand sleeve, with a United Nations brassard on the left (see REL/22020.004).