Surprise reunion for Timor-Leste Defence Force officer with Waiouru instructor 10 years on

Proudly stood outside his unit at Metinaro Military Camp, hour’s drive out of Timor-Leste’s capital Dili, Lieutenant Marcelo Mendonca de Araújo reflects on his journey, 10 years on from graduating as an overseas officer cadet in Waiouru.

25 June, 2025

But with the mercury touching close 30ﹾC in Dili, one memory stands out immediately.

“I remember experiencing four seasons in a day,” Lieutenant Mendonca said.

Lieutenant Mendonca participated in the Officer Cadet School’s Commissioning Course under the New Zealand Defence Force’s Mutual Assistance Programme with Timor-Leste, and graduated in 2015.

In the decade since, he’s progressed through the ranks of the Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) and is now the acting-Director of his Defence Force’s Peacekeeping Operations Centre.

Earlier this month, he briefed both visiting Chiefs of Army from New Zealand and Australia on his unit’s ambitions to send more peacekeeping troops to United Nations missions around the world – a sentiment shared by Timor-Leste’s Chief of Defence earlier in the day.

Lieutenant Mendonca credits the skills he learned and fostered in Waiouru to his position today.

“[My time in New Zealand] taught me a lot. I learned a lot of leadership skills and lots of abilities that I can now apply back in my own Defence Force, particularly when planning and [setting] standards as a junior officer to implement in my workplace.”

Soldiers in red and black dress uniform through their hats in the air as part of their graduation ceremony. They are standing on the grass on a sunny day. There is blue sky and very few clouds. In the background, there are trees.

A solider stands in uniform - looking at the camera and smiling. In the back ground is corrugated iron and a sign.

A soldier stands in uniform shaking the hand of another soldier in uniform (their back to the camera).

A decade on from his graduation at Waiouru, Lieutenant Mendonca is the acting-Director of the Timor-Leste Defence Force’s Peacekeeping Operations Centre

In a remarkable coincidence one of his instructors from the 2015 New Zealand Commissioning Course (NZCC) at Waiouru, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Swale, was part of the visiting New Zealand Army delegation.

“It was an absolute pleasure to unexpectedly reconnect with Marcelo whilst in Dili,” Lieutenant Colonel Swale said.

“The last time I saw him he was in Waiouru having just completed the New Zealand Commissioning Course (NZCC) and commencing his journey as an on officer within Timor Leste’s armed forces. A decade later he is an experienced and well-travelled leader, having worked in countries throughout the region.”

He added that being able to see the impact Lieutenant Mendonca was having on his unit underlined the importance of continuing support to train and enable more personnel from around the Pacific.

“Having foreign students on courses in New Zealand such as NZCC pays real dividends - not only do we learn from each other, but it also creates enduring links that are fundamental as we operate together in our region.”

Lieutenant Mendonca agrees.

“I encourage more young Timor-Leste officers, or NCOs (non-commissioned officers) to undertake some overseas training, especially in New Zealand, because it will transform your mentality, your character as a military to become more professional and you develop a lot of your leadership skills.”