Lt-Col Ron Morley beneath the national flags in Metinaro. Photo by Sgt Troy Rodgers, 1JPAU(P)

Aussie support for ETDF continues

By Cpl Jonathan Garland
AN ORGANISATION of 27 Australians in East Timor are providing ongoing support to the developing East Timor Defence Force (ETDF).

Lt-Col Ron Morley, of the Defence Cooperation Program, said the structure was really one of programs within programs.

“In Dili there’s a headquarters structure for logistic and financial support, plus a cell in the office of Defence Force Development to provide financial, capability, donation and communications advice to the ETDF Headquarters,” he said.

“Beyond that, we have the 2 Bn Advisory Detachment, who are dedicated to infantry skills training and the 1 Bn Advisory Detachment in Los Palos.”

Metinaro is also home to the English language program, teaching English competencies for the future individual and collective requirements of the ETDF.

Instructors at Metinaro also provide communications, stores management and armourer skills training.

Lt-Col Morley said the ultimate aim was to produce, on their behalf, a stable and capable defence force.

“One of our successes was sending a team to compete in the Australian Skill at Arms Meeting – it showed the competitors what the world was doing in a shooting sense and introduced them to Australia’s military and civil lifestyle.

“It opened their eyes and they were able to bring a wealth of knowledge home to their fellow soldiers in East Timor.”

Australian personnel are posted to the Defence Co-operation Program, opposed to those deployed to the UN mission in East Timor.

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