Australia announces offer of joint training courses as part of defence cooperation program with Lebanon

Australian Embassy-Beirut

The Australian Embassy in Beirut has announced that Australia would now offer to selected members of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) a number of places on joint training courses conducted in Australia.

The offer for Lebanon military personnel to undertake training in Australia is part of an enhanced Defence Cooperation Program between the two countries.

The announcement coincides with the visit to Lebanon last week by Australia’s outgoing non-resident Defence Attaché, Captain (Royal Australian Navy) Gavin Irwin, and his successor, Group Captain (Royal Australian Air Force) Warrick Paddon.

During a meeting at LAF headquarters last week, Captain Irwin presented to Brigadier General Khaled Hamade, LAF Director of Training, a letter from Australia’s Ambassador Lex Bartlem, which outlined the training courses on offer.

Ambassador Bartlem said it was his great pleasure to be able to convey the news of the offer made by the Department of Defence in Canberra.

“I believe this offer to provide places on joint program courses marks a new stage in further developing and enhancing the existing strong bilateral relationship between Australia and Lebanon, and strengthening the ties between our two peoples,” Bartlem said.

The Australian Government will fully fund the participation of LAF personnel in each of the training courses, which will also include a one-week familiarisation course at the Defence International Training Centre in Melbourne, prior to undertaking the specialised training course.

The first training opportunity, commencing in late February, is a Civil-Military Interaction Workshop, which will bring together selected personnel from up to 18 countries – from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific – to train alongside Australia Defence Force personnel and other civilians.