Kit for F-FDTL

Australian officials watch as Commander F-FDTL Brig-Gen Taur Matan Ruak examines field equipment given by Australia. Photo by WO2 Anna Mercieca, DCP-EM

From Cpl Cameron Jamieson in East Timor

AUSTRALIA recently supplied more than $200,000 worth of field equipment to the East Timorese army as part of the ongoing Defence Cooperation Program (DCP).

Commander Falintil – Força de Defesa de Timor Leste (F-FDTL) Brig-Gen Taur Matan Ruak officially received the equipment at a recent ceremony.

The field equipment included compasses, binoculars, webbing and backpacks, which will be issued to more than 230 recruits on the latest course at the Metinaro training facility.

1500 sets of runners were also gifted for issue to all F-FDTL members.

CO DCP East Timor Lt-Col Martin McKone said the field equipment was Australia’s gift to the first recruit course run by F-FDTL instructors, with the F-FDTL selecting the types of equipment to be received.

“All the items go through a process where our advisors or the F-FDTL recognise a need for certain equipment the F-FDTL can’t source themselves,” Lt-Col McKone said.

“They put a request through to us and we process that request as well as we can.”

The DCP’s training task has moved from a direct training role to a “train-the-trainer” function, marking a significant development in the F-FDTL’s ability to autonomously train it’s own soldiers.