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Mark Vele

Mark Vele

Major in the Australian Army (reservist), born in Papua New Guinea, veteran of Operation COVID-19 Assist, PNG Assist and UN peacekeeping Operation ASLAN in South Sudan.

Jun 14, 2026

The Cove Podcast

The Cove Podcast

Peacekeeping, Protection and Perspective: Lessons from Operation ASLAN with Maj Mark Vele

Jun 14 · 1h 3m

John Hardgrave
John HardgraveHOST
26:46
Not a small thing.
Mark Vele
Mark VeleGUEST
26:48
No, absolutely.
Mark Vele
Mark VeleGUEST
26:49
It took me sort of 12 months to get that across the line.
Mark Vele
Mark VeleGUEST
26:52
In fact, I signed my part of it the day I flew out of South Sudan.
Mark Vele
Mark VeleGUEST
26:57
Wow.
Mark Vele
Mark VeleGUEST
26:58
But, you know, that involved doing a reconnaissance of a road move, if required, from Juba or the whole mission collapsing into Uganda.
Mark Vele
Mark VeleGUEST
27:07
So I got down to see that.

5 MINS LATER

John Hardgrave
John HardgraveHOST
32:31
Did you have any opportunity to work, I guess, outside of your cell and see parts of the other mission working and get an understanding of what they were doing?

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