Preparations underway for Exercise Harii Hamutuk 2016
29 September 2016
Engineers from F-FDTL, Australia and the United States militaries, and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force are preparing to conduct Exercise Harii Hamutuk from 3 October to 4 November 2016. During the Exercise, the engineers will complete infrastructure development projects at the Hera and Metinaro military bases, as well as in the Metinaro community area.
Members from all four nations will work together in constructing military facilities to increase F-FDTL’s capability, as well as upgrading the Metinaro Health Care facilities which are vital to the local community. Exercise Harii Hamutuk will provide an opportunity for F-FDTL engineers to work alongside construction teams from Australia, the U.S., and Japan, while developing leadership and technical skills.
In 2015, over 100 men and women participated in Exercise Harii Hamutuk and this year the exercise is set to be even bigger. There will be participants from Australia’s 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. For the first time, the exercise will also include the United States Army. Australia, Japan, and the United States will deploy skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen to provide assistance and training for F-FDTL engineers and other F-FDTL units.
While Exercise Harii Hamutuk is focussed on engineering and construction, this year it will also provide the F-FDTL skills in physical instructor training, and plant equipment and small engine training.
Last year, Exercise Harii Hamutuk successfully constructed two classrooms, accommodation and an ablutions block at Hera Naval Base, as well as improved the Hera community health clinic facilities. These projects were among dozens of infrastructure developments conducted over the course of the exercise. F-FDTL engineers were exposed to a broad range of trade skills training; including bricklaying, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and conveyancing.
Training opportunities, such as Exercise Harii Hamutuk, remain an essential part of Australia’s ongoing Defence Cooperation Program the United States’ Office of Defense Cooperation and the Japanese Self Defense Force security cooperation programs in Timor-Leste. This collaborative training demonstrates the enduring cooperation between Australia, the United States and Japan to support Timor-Leste’s defence capability growth.