right royal visit p2 7 bde's grand send - Department of Defence

20 CENTREPIECE Army February 4, 2010 21
TAKING
POSITIVE
STEPS
AS MEMBERS of Timor-Leste
Battle Group 6 prepare to return
home, they can be confident they
have made a positive contribution
to East Timor.
The key to the success of TLBG 6 – which
is based on a 2RAR battle group and deployed
in June 2009 – has been its application of adaptive
campaigning principles, according to CO
Lt-Col Dave Smith.
Lt-Col Smith says the battle group has tailored
adaptive campaigning – which is the
military contribution to whole-of-government
efforts to resolving conflict – to suit the operational
environment in East Timor.
“This has allowed us to ensure a balanced
approach across all aspects of the ADF commitment
to East Timor and develop a long-term,
effects-based plan that can be handed over to
the follow-on force without interruption.”
He says the rebuilding of a local football
stadium is a good example of the battle group’s
approach.
“In this project we built indigenous capacity
by teaching skills to local trade students and
army engineers, engaged the local population
to provide support for aspects of the reconstruction
process and had a firm information
strategy to tie it all together.
“In combination, this delivered outcomes
that not only strengthened confidence in the
government of Timor- Leste, but also reinforced
the status and image of the police and army in a
place that was a source of unrest in 2006.”
He says successful adaptive campaigning
relies heavily on a strong and capable
Combined Operational Liaison Team (COLT)
to engage with a broad range of agencies and
organisations.
“There has to be a focus on supporting
agencies already in theatre,” he says.
TLBG 6’s adaptivecampaigning
strategy has
improved the security
situation in East Timor.
Report: Capt Chris Hawkins
“In East Timor these agencies include
the Defence Cooperation Program, Timor-
Leste Police Development Program, the UN
and the various agencies of the Timor-Leste
Government.
“The COLT, which was first created during
the TLBG 5 deployment and further developed
during our time in theatre, allows us to maintain
a close working relationship with all of
these agencies via dedicated liaison officers.”
Lt-Col Smith says work is under way to
incorporate the battle group’s adaptive campaigning
approach into future operational level
plans in East Timor.
“With the security situation remaining stable
and the battle group headquarters merging
with the JTF HQ to produce a single force, the
challenge is the development of an integrated
operational and tactical level plan that remains
true to the principles and lines of operation
within adaptive campaigning,” he says.
HOW TIMOR-LESTE BATTLE GROUP 6 HAS APPLIED ADAPTIVE CAMPAIGNING IN EAST TIMOR
JOINT LAND COMBAT
Operations have focused on individual and collective
training programs to ensure the battle group
retains the capacity to provide a robust-response
capability. Individual training programs undertaken
by the battle group include: the Junior Leader
Course; Supervisor Infantry Operations – section
courses; Subject Two for CPL – RAEME; Visual
Trackers Courses; drivers courses; CFA courses; and
weapons courses.TLBG 6 also capitalised on the
recent adoption of the Army Capability Requirement
Infantry 2012 ORBAT. Deployed with two 2012
light infantry rifle companies, the battle group has
practised coordinated dismounted manoeuvre with
delivery of increased direct fire weapon effects in
combined-arms settings (including APCs and Black
Hawks). Blank and live-fire training in close country
and urban environments has allowed operational
test and evaluation trials by the Australian Defence
Test and Evaluation Office. This has also supported
the information actions and Indigenous Capacity
Building (ICB) lines of operations in terms of providing
capability demonstrations for the Timor-Leste
Defence Force.
POPULATION PROTECTION
Operations that maintain the situational awareness,
security and response requirements of the
UN Technical Arrangement (UNTA) and Status
of Forces Agreement. To meet UNTA obligations
the battle group maintains a series of layered
response capabilities to support the UN and
Government of East Timor. This includes the
maintenance of strong working relationships with
UN security agencies, other government agencies
and Non-Government Organisations. More importantly,
the battle group retains situational awareness
through a system of hierarchical engagement
with the key stakeholders and the population of
East Timor. This has been built on the success
of previous ADF and NZDF deployments to East
Timor, which have established a strong connection
with the local population.
INFORMATION ACTIONS
Operations with coordinated delivery of information
to shape the perceptions, attitudes and behaviours
of target populations, enhancing the physical
effects of the other lines of operation. Coordinated
by the newly-developed Information Dominance
and Influence (IDI) Cell, the battle group has significantly
shaped the security environment with
complimentary non-physical effects. IDI Cell planning
has allowed the battle group to coordinate
the delivery of information across multiple lines of
operation at decisive points to maximise the benefits
and successes of these operations.
TLGB 6 is currently conducting operations involving
the significant rebuild of an East Timorese
sporting venue. This includes construction and
mentoring programs to deliver effects along the
Population Support and ICB lines of operation. The
information actions undertaken to shape popular
support for preliminary works, an opening event,
sponsorship and national media interest, are of
critical importance to the successful outcome of
this activity.
On the march: ISF solders patrol through
Suai districts. Photo by AB Jo Dilorenzo
POPULATION SUPPORT
Operations designed to reinforce existing population
support capabilities and agencies to restore
or replace necessary essential services of affected
communities, consistent and synchronised with
East Timor Government and whole-of-goverment
objectives. The rapid growth of the East Timor
Government and business services, as well as
the influx of NGO and commercial businesses,
has seen growth in capacity for the delivery of
infrastructure and essential services for the East
Timorese population. However, scope still exists to
improve the standard of living for the population.
TLBG 6 operations are, wherever possible, aligned
to support AUSAID and NZAID goals as well as
complement the planned effects of the other lines
of operation. For example, TLBG 6 engineers have
supported Defence Cooperation Program (DCP)
and F-FDTL-led engineering construction works
for medical clinics in remote regions. This has
increased the standard of health care available to
remote communities. Future battle group operations
will involve a significant engineer bridging
activity aligned with the East Timor Government
bridging priorities, as well as support to AUSAIDled
governance and agriculture development
programs.
INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS
Operations designed to nurture the establishment
of civilian governance, by providing support to
existing development programs consistent with
whole-of-government objectives. Numerous ICB
support agencies exist in East Timor. The AFP-led
East Timor Police Development Program provides
specialist training to the Timor Police, while the
DCP and NZ Military Assistance Program provide
specialist training to the F-FDTL. TLBG 6 has provided
support to each of these programs. TLGB
6’s main effort is the development of the F-FDTL
with the aim of assisting the F-FDTL to continue
its transition to a professional military force by
providing a professional example. TLBG 6 has
provided a series of live- and blank-fire demonstrations
for key F-FDTL leadership. Future indigenous
capacity building operations will develop
the capacity of the F-FDTL to participate in joint
exercises.
COLT
Combined Operational Liaison Team (COLT) is
the glue that binds the plan together. To achieve
success, TLBG 6’s plan for operations in East
Timor requires integration across the five lines of
operation and a sound working knowledge of, and
relationship with, the UN, East Timor Government,
other Australian and foreign government agencies
and non-government organisations operating in
East Timor. The COLT concept was introduced by
TLBG 5 in early 2009 and quickly demonstrated its
value as an information gathering and coordination
agency. Since TLBG 6 assumed authority, the
COLT capability has been expanded to take on a
greater whole-of-government focus. The TLBG 6
COLT has four liaison teams in each of the main
East Timor Government and UN elements, an
OGA/NGO liaison team and an Engineer/CIMIC fly
away team. Each of the liaison teams spend time
meeting or consulting with key leadership in the
organisations at the East Timor operational level.
This informs the ISF Commander and TLBG CO of
developments and issues in these organisations.
This approach also seeks opportunities for the ISF
to provide coordinated support to the East Timor
Government, UN and NGO initiatives.
Up and onwards: Troops board a waiting Black Hawk. Photo by LAC Christopher Dickson
Force reduction
AUSTRALIA’s commitment to the
ISF in East Timor will draw down
from about 650 to 400 personnel
this month.
Defence Minister John Faulkner
announced the drawdown on
December 10 which started with
about 100 ADF members returning
to Australia in mid-December.
Further reduction to about 400
ADF members will occur gradually.
The drawdown coincides with the
deployment of the Brisbane-based
8/9RAR and the return to Australia
of 2RAR.
The transition of authority
to 8/9RAR is scheduled for late
February.
The overall joint Australian-New
Zealand force will decrease from
800 to about 550 personnel with the
current New Zealand contribution
remaining unchanged at 150.
Senator Faulkner said the security
situation had remained stable in
East Timor since the February 2008
attacks on East Timor’s President
and Prime Minister. He said 100
ADF members had been withdrawn
in January 2009 with no significant
effect on the security situation.
“The decision to reduce the
number of ADF personnel recognises
the ongoing calm security situation
in East Timor and the efforts
of the Government and people of
East Timor to uphold this,” Senator
Faulkner said.
He said the ISF would increase
its focus on capacity-building of East
Timor’s military forces.