Wayne's vital role
November 27, 2000
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FALINTIL members |
Although the major force element is the Army, namely 1RAR, The Royal Australian Navy still has a significant presence with the two force assigned LCHs being the major contribution.
There is however another role that is not in the same 'spotlight' that of LEUT Wayne Hamilton and his work in the Military Intelligence Cell of the UNTAET Headquarters l.
After arriving May 4,and commencing his posting as the Deputy Maritime Operations Officer in the Maritime Cell under LCDR Mick Miller, Wayne was quickly seconded into the Military Information (MILINFO) Cell when downsizing of the maritime operations began..
Since then he has established himself as a valuable asset within MILINFO.
With the PKF organization being a multinational commitment, Wayne's job entails him working for and with a number of different nationalities in collecting, disseminating, and analysing information for use in daily operations briefings to the Force Commander, HQ staff, and a multitude of visiting dignitaries that pass through the HQ.
His boss
His direct boss is a Portuguese lieutenant colonel, who in turn is responsible to a New Zealand colonel.His workmates include Australian, New Zealander, Norwegian, Canadian, Portuguese, Pakistani, Kenyan and Thai soldiers and officers making this a truly multinational cell with its own inherent challenges.
Other roles within MILINFO which Wayne has taken on include helping plan and/or analyse past or future operations conducted not only by PKF elements but also in depth analysis of militia actions as well.
He is also responsible for maintaining the database detailing East Timorese political parties, and a database of members of Forcas Armadas de Libertacao Nacional de Timor-Leste (FALINTIL), the armed forces for the National Liberation of East Timor who had waged a guerrilla war against the Indonesian occupation since 1975.
Wayne is also routinely in contact with various Sector commands, receiving or passing on any intelligence updates or significant events that might have occurred within the AO.
FALINTIL
In addition to these everyday roles he has taken on the important position of liaison officer with FALINTIL.FALINTIL is expected to form the core of the future East Timor Defence Force and as such is becoming an increasingly important component of PKF efforts.
Liaison
This position sees him working not only in the HQ where he works extensively with the FALINTIL Liaison Officer Team (FLOT) acting as their point of contact within the HQ PKF, but also sees him travelling extensively throughout East Timor where he liaises with, and on occasion lives, with FALINTIL elements in the field.From these experiences he gathers information to advise the PKF HQ and different Sector and Battalion Commands on FALINTIL employment.
Only just recently he was involved in briefing our very own CDF, ADML Barrie, and CA, LTGEN Cosgrove, on the future of the East Timor Defence Force.
By Maritime Cell Staff