US support to East Timor

Attentive: East Timorese soldiers listen to the US mobile training team. Photo by Cpl Damian Shovell

By Cpl Damian Shovell

A US mobile training team has taught command post procedures to the East Timorese Defence Force.

The four-strong team of three officers and one sergeant instructed the East Timorese last month on planning processes, building orders and staff section interaction.

US officer Maj Jed Walter said the training was delivered for a week at Taci-Tolu and Metinaro near Dili, then moved to Los Palos in the east, before culminating in a week-long exercise involving all students. Quite a contrast in climate and topography to the foot-deep snow the Kansas-based, Fort Leavenworth team left behind.

“The East Timorese are eager to learn and it’s forced us to get out of our comfort zone and make sure we understand our own processes enough to teach them,” Maj Walter said.

“It’s been a great experience, the [East Timorese] are at a pivotal point because the army stands firmly behind the rule of law and it’s important they have a model of experience that the Australians provide, and hopefully the experience we provide.”

The sole US military member based in East Timor, foreign area officer Maj Wayne Turnbull, in coordination with the ADF and the East Timorese Defence Force, had determined there was a need for staff training.