• Total size: 3,000 soldiers – 1,500 regulars and 1,500 reservists.
• Structure: four battalions of light infantry (two active, two reserves).
• Equipment: 1,200 M-16 A2 rifles, 75 M-203, 50 Colt-45 pistols, 75 Minima LSW light support weapons, 75 machine guns.
• Naval component: Two Albatross-class patrol boats donated by Portugal and equipped with 12.7mm fixed machine-guns. About 150 men are being trained for coast guard patrols.

Equipment

The USA has agreed to sell 1,200 M-16A2 assault rifles, 75 M-203 assault rifles with combination grenade launchers, and 50 .45 calibre Colt hand guns. The weaponry has not been supplied directly, but via the UN: it is illegal under US law to supply armaments to a "non-state". Belgium is supplying 75 Minimi LMGs. Older Australian- supplied versions of the M-16 are currently being used in training and will be returned after arrival of the US shipment; meantime, further supplies of reconditioned M-16s arrived in East Timor from Australia in the last week of July.

Uniforms have been gifted by the Portuguese. Webbing, radios and GPS equipment will be supplied by Australia. Fifty vehicles, including trucks, are coming from Italy. There are still some items on the commanders' wish list: specifically, light mortars, APCs, Landrover-type vehicles, ambulances and staff cars.

In June, an Australian-built training complex and barracks was opened at Metanaro, 40km outside Dili. The Metanaro facility incorporates barracks, lecture facilities, conference rooms, and an armoury housed within metal shipping containers. It reputedly involves an investment of US$2.5 million and is a gift from the Australian government.

Training

The two major donor nations, Australia and Portugal, are sharing the training of the first batch of 625 recruits drawn entirely from the former Falintil guerrilla forces now officially disbanded. Additional battalions will be non-Falintil and recruited nationwide. The first ETDF graduates – 247 in number – passed out at the end of June. UNTAET expects the force to be built up to battalion strength of around 600 by March 2002. At full strength, the ETDF will comprise 3,000 men and women under arms with a regular force of two battalions totalling 1,500.

Training is being carried out by an international team. Portuguese soldiers have been carrying out basic training. New Zealand is handling weapons training and a small team of South Koreans are instructing in self defence and fitness.

The new officers of ETDF are grateful to their patrons. "Australia and Portugal have shown themselves to be our friends. We are grateful for their support and [so] are willing to accept their ideas for the moment," says Colonel Lere, commander of the first provisional battalion. However, there are complaints about being taught by the armies of at least four different countries: not just the differences in equipment, but also training can be confusing for the hundreds of recruits who have signed up with remarkable enthusiasm – without service contracts or any agreed payment.