Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has given the strongest indication yet that meritorious unit citations will not be revoked from all special forces troops who served in Afghanistan.

"If people have got a case to answer, that will be dealt with, if not they will be cleared and they can get on with their life," Mr Dutton told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.

"But in cases where people have been recognised and they have received formally that recognition by way of a citation or medal, in the vast majority of cases they are exceptional people.

"Those citations, those medals will stand. In cases where people have committed a heinous crime, well, there's a consideration of that matter."

Chief of Defence Angus Campbell has backed away from recommending the governor-general strip unit citations from all 3000 special forces troops who served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.

His initial decision drew fierce backlash from some veterans and media critics, prompting the prime minister to intervene.

Mr Dutton distanced himself from calls for the general to resign.

"General Campbell, like the men and women that he leads, are exceptional Australians," the minister said.

"I think we should take our hat off to each one of them, starting with the chief of the defence force, all the way down."

Australian Associated Press