East Timorese in Royal Military College at Duntroon Australia

Australia is committed to Timor Leste’s Defence Force Training.

(From the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon, Minister of Defence of Australia). Two Timorese officers graduated from the Royal Military College at Duntroon on 24 June as part of an ongoing program by Autralia to provide high quality training to the Timor-Leste Defence Force. Alferes (2^nd LT) Francisco Da Silva and Alferes (2^nd LT) Helio Da Costa have both completed a range of Australian training to bring them to this point. Both have completed English language programs in Timor-Leste and Australia and 2^nd LT Da Silva completed the Defence sponsored English language Course at Charles Darwin University. Both officiers are set to complete more detailed specialist training in Australia in Engineering and Logistics respectively, before returning to Timor-Leste to pass on their skills and lead the men and women of the Timorese Defence Force. The Graduation of Timorese officiers highlights statements made by the minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP in Parliament on 23 June where he reiterated Australia’s enduring commitment to develop the Timorese Defence Force. “Helping to build a solid, well trained and apolitical Defence Force for Timir-Leste is one way that my Department can create the conditions necessary for stability to take hold and for democracy and prosperity to flourish,” mr. Fitzgibbon said. By Australian Embassy