Defence News

Australian Army technicians serving with the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in East Timor are teaching Information Technology (IT) skills to East Timorese Army recruits.

The training is being conducted under the Australian-led Defence Cooperation Program aimed at professionalising and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the East Timorese Army (F-FDTL).

Officer in Charge of the training, Army Lieutenant Cody Goulding, said that the course was designed to give students a basic understanding of IT skills and theory.

“Over a period of four weeks, two of our ISF signalers have been attached to the F-FDTL providing basic IT training to the recruits,” Lieutenant Goulding said.

“This training provides the recruits with core IT skills, from basic mouse functions right though to simple networking skills.”

For instructor, Army Signaler Corporal Matt Ellis, teaching the recruits was a chance to also broaden his own skills and contribute towards the ongoing development of the F-FDTL.

“It has been a real pleasure instructing the F-FDTL students,” Corporal Matt Ellis said.

“The training is important because as the F-FDTL grows and develops data communication networks, they will need to have professionals to maintain the equipment and fix any problems.”

One such professional is F-FDTL trainee, 2nd Sergeant Lucia Araujo De Jesus, who chose to specialise in IT because it was an area she believed the
F-FDTL would need to develop in the future.

“It is important that we can transfer this training and knowledge to others so that East Timor and the F-FDTL can grow and work with other forces in the future,” said 2nd Sergeant De Jesus.

The ISF IT training with the F-FDTL will conclude at the end of November 2011.

The ISF is in East Timor at the invitation of the Government of Timor-Leste to support local security forces to maintain a secure and stable environment.