Army trains Vietnamese youth DPR/TV/1257

As part of the stepped-up civil action programme in Phuoc Tuy Province, the Australian Army has begun an apprenticeship scheme for young Vietnamese. The first of a group of tradesmen apprentices the Australian Army hopes to train is a 20 year old Vietnamese named Nguyen Van Le. At an equipment compound near Baria, he arrives at the start of a working day in a vehicle with the plant superviser of 17 Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers - the unit which will train the apprentices. The plant superviser, Warrant Officer Mike Mace of Puckapunyal, Vic, watches as Nguyen Van Le makes his routine morning oil check on a heavy roller which he has learned to operate. Nguyen speaks no English, but the Australians have managed to teach him about machinery by sign language, and the occasional use of an interpreter. It is hoped the engineers will shortly begin training other tradesmen, such as builders, electricians, mechanics, steelworkers, and carpenters. Nguyen shows what he has already learned by manipulating the roller on a heavily used road which the Australians are improving. When Nguyen's training period is over, the Australians will help him find employment in his new-found skills.