Airlift enables Vietnamese peacekeeping commitments

Sixty-two Vietnamese peacekeepers have begun a year-long deployment on the United Nations (UN) Mission in South Sudan, supported by Australia’s eighth strategic airlift.

The Vietnam People’s Army personnel departed Vietnam in late September aboard a RAAF C-17A Globemaster III with about 22 tonnes of equipment and medical supplies for the Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 8 in Bentiu.

Over the coming 12 months, the medical contingent will deliver healthcare to UN personnel while supporting local communities and medical services.

The Level 2 Field Hospital will provide emergency resuscitation and stabilisation, life- and limb-saving surgery, basic dental care and casualty evacuation to higher levels of medical care.

The aircraft later returned 50 Rotation 7 peacekeepers to Vietnam after they completed their 12-month deployment.

The mission continued more than a decade of cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in preparing personnel for UN peacekeeping operations.

Australia began supporting Vietnam’s peacekeeping preparations in 2011, initially providing English language training to future medical and engineering personnel.

Support later expanded to include UN training, specialist medical training and aeromedical evacuation (AME), along with mental health, force protection and logistics planning.

In 2026, Australian and Vietnamese medical specialists also co-delivered AME training as the training model continued to mature.

Vietnam has deployed more than 1600 Vietnam People’s Army peacekeepers during its 12 years of participation in UN peacekeeping.

Behind the latest airlift was a five-person Australian mobile air load team responsible for preparing, inspecting and loading the contingent’s cargo.

Independent Load Inspector SGT Nicholas Dixon oversaw a load supervisor and three air terminal operators, ensuring the cargo met aircraft and load safety requirements.

SGT Dixon, who also supported the previous rotation, said returning to the task gave him an opportunity to see the impact of his work.

“This is essentially why I joined Defence,” SGT Dixon said.

“I wanted to be able to make a difference and have an impact somewhere.

“We’re actually helping humanitarian aid in a way through the UN.”

The Australian team also witnessed the contrast between those beginning their mission and the peacekeepers returning home after 12 months in South Sudan.

SGT Dixon said the returning personnel were happy with what they had achieved, but their time away had left an impression.

“I think they were definitely happy with the work that they had done and what they had achieved there,” he said.

“But I think being in such a location it does take a toll on you, so you do come back with just a little bit of a different perspective.”

For SGT Dixon, supporting the mission for a second time reinforced why the task mattered.

“I’d love to come back and do it again for a third year, if they’re willing to have me.”

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