-Behind the Scenes at the NSE
11 November 2008
They’re the people who are seldom seen, but without their behind-the-scenes work, little would run smoothly for New Zealand’s contingent in Timor Leste, and other parts of the Pacific.
Major Steve Yates and his tri-Service team run the National Support Element tucked into a corner of the RAAF base in Darwin. They run the strategic logistic support for the company group in Timor Leste. “What they need, we provide. What they can’t source in theatre, we buy here and get it over to them,” says Major Yates.
And the products the team find and air freight or ship are diverse and range from fuel, oils and lubricants, to computers, padlocks and stationery.
Task Group Whare, a recent engineer surge into Dili to refurbish working and living accommodation for the troops meant the team was often very busy sourcing products the engineers needed to complete their tasks.
Major Yates says it is sometimes challenging obtaining equipment or parts quickly so that they can be sent to whoever needs them.
“There is a much slower pace of life here in the Northern Territory, but we have found suppliers who are very helpful and who know that sometimes we need things urgently.”
The team includes two suppliers, and a movement operator. It falls mostly to them to source whatever is needed, and work out how to get it where it needs to be.
The National Support Element also looks after New Zealand defence personnel who fly into Darwin, either en route somewhere else, or on annual leave from a deployment. They are invariably met at the airport at 1am and taken to their accommodation.
“It’s all part of the service we provide over here,” says Major Yates.
Working on an Australian base is great, he says.
“The Australians look after us really well. They give us fantastic IT support, and advice on issues.”
He says the Darwin deployment seems to bring out the best in the Kiwis who are based there.
“They really develop their problem solving skills, and they sort out issues efficiently and as quickly as they can because they realise people in theatre need them to. Young people here get a lot of responsibility. Our key support area is Timor and we try to turn demands around as soon as possible.”
Five New Zealand defence Force personnel are in Timor Leste working with the Timorese Defence Force in the areas of small-arms training, human resources and logistics.
The team comprises two logisticians, two HR officers, and one small arms trainer.
Operation Kaihanga is all about capacity building, says one of the team, advisor Major Theo Alexopoulous, and advisors help their F-FDTL counterparts to fins solutions to make the Timorese military more capable and effective.
He says advisors help the FFDTL in whatever ways they can in their area of work, and advise them on ways they can develop their skills and knowledge.
Major Alexopoulos has served in Cambodia a military advisor, and says there are many similarities between that role and his current position. “In order to make a difference I think we have to acknowledge who the Timorese are and what they want, and then just get on with it. We try to help them find solutions their way. You can’t come to a place like this and impose the way we do things at home on the Timorese”
“They have their own political issues, and it is not our place to become involved in those. We focus on the area that is our expertise, and devote out time to helping them develop their capacity as a military
He says the work is varied and interesting. “One day I could be looking at the construction of a new parade ground, the next I could be advising them how to develop standard operating procedures for vehicle contracts. We can be working with contractors, businessmen, other advisors as well as the Timorese military, providing advice about any day to day issues they may have. We give them suggestions – we don’t tell them what to do.”
Sqnldr Robbie Chambers, who is working on human resources issues with the F-FDTL says gaining trust and credibility is important, and New Zealanders have found they can relate easily to the Timorese.
Small Arms Training advisor WO2 Percy McLaughlan is based at Metinaro, where he advises members of the F-FDTL. It’s his third deployment to Timor Leste, but the first as an advisor.
The NZDF had a small arms training team in Timor Leste until 2006. It was coincidental that the training ended in the same year as the most recent conflict erupted.
WO McLaughlan said limited progress had been made since the original training programme finished in 2006. “I have made some suggestions, but they need to find Timorese solutions to their issues. I have an idea of which areas they need to put work into, but it’s a matter of ‘will those ideas work for them? Are they appropriate?’ You can’t impose the Kiwi way, and tell them they have to do things a certain way.”
He said it was important to build trust.
“In the long term I hope what I do will help them set a platform for other people to succeed on.”