Fed: Gen Cosgrove encourage study participants

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2008
Fed: Gen Cosgrove encourage study participants

SYDNEY, Dec 28 AAP - Former Defence chief Peter Cosgrove has called for Vietnam-era
service families to get involved in a study on the long-term effects of war service on
families and children.

General Cosgrove - who has been invited to participate - has written to fellow Vietnam
vets encouraging them and their families to sign up to the Vietnam Veterans' Family Study.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Alan Griffin said General Cosgrove was one of the many
people randomly selected for the study.

"Invitations to participate in the study were sent to randomly selected Vietnam-era
army personnel - 10,000 each of those who served in Vietnam and those who didn't," the
minister said.

"General Cosgrove was one of those Vietnam veterans who was randomly selected to participate
in the study, and I was pleased to hear that he, his wife and his family have signed up.

"The nation is grateful for the contribution of Australian servicemen and women during
the Vietnam war. But we are asking for help once again, especially from those Army personnel
who served at the time, but not in Vietnam, as they provide a very important comparison
to those who did serve in Vietnam," Mr Griffin said.

A letter from General Cosgrove has been sent to all participants who have not yet responded
to their original invitation, encouraging his former colleagues to register for the study.

"I am asking for you and your family to participate in the program," General Cosgrove
says in the letter.

"Your contribution will help shape approaches and policies which will not only aid
those in need from that era but many thousands of young men and women in uniform and their
families in the future."

The preferred recruitment target is around 5,000 each of the randomly selected Vietnam
veterans and Vietnam-era service personnel, and 5000 of each group's children.

This will allow the study to provide many comparisons, including more rare medical conditions.

To date, 2,200 Vietnam veterans have responded, but only 1200 of those who didn't serve
in Vietnam.

"If you served in the Army during the Vietnam war, even if you didn't go to Vietnam,
you can help. Talk to your mates and encourage those invited to participate, and encourage
their families to participate as well," General Cosgrove said.

Register by calling 1800 502 302, on-line at www.dva.gov.au/vvfs or by mailing in a
completed registration form. Copies are available on-line, photocopies are acceptable.

AAP cdh/it

KEYWORD: STUDY

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