United States of America, May 22, 2025

A member of the FALINTIL-Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL), Lieutenant Colonel Salustiano de Vasconcelos, currently the Second Air Force Commander of the F-FDTL, has completed the Air Force General Staff Command Course held at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery AFB, United States Forces Alabama, for a one-year term from May 19, 2024 to June 22, 2025.

This course was held because the FALINTIL-FDTL had the opportunity to participate in the course through the Defense Cooperation Program, which took place at the Air University.

The objective of this course is to develop Air Force leadership capabilities to prepare for joint, multinational, and interagency operations, educate and train operational-level leaders to become more agile, innovative, and adaptable, with critical thinking skills to communicate effectively, and to be able to engage in teamwork or group command to execute mission principles. Joint Action Aircraft in a complex and uncertain environment.

The course was conducted in the 2024-2025 academic year and was attended by 400 senior officers of the United States Armed Forces (US) with the rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel. In addition, there are also students from 84 countries and 69 countries with the rank of Major, including a student from FILNTTLF, who is a new participant.

Before starting their studies at ACSC, Maxwell AFB - Alabama, all international officers will participate in the International Officer Preparatory Course for one and a half months. Force Base, Alabama, United States of America.

This course is designed to familiarize international students with the culture, familiarize them with the curriculum, materials, and assessment methods during the ACSC course, prepare students' writing, reading, thinking, and discussion skills at the academic level, familiarize them with the organization, mission, and doctrine of the U.S. forces, starting July 20, 2014-2024, and students who successfully complete the ACSC preparatory course will receive a diploma.

The topics covered in this course are

- Academic Preparation

- American and Institutional Ideals (American and Institutional Ideals)

- Leadership (With Leadership)

- Military Studies (Military Study)

- Communication Skills

- Academic Visit to the Field Training Program (FSP) in Washington, DC.

The Air Force General Staff Command Course (ACSC) is a very rigorously conducted postgraduate program lasting 46 weeks (eleven months) starting on July 8, 2024 and ending on July 21, 2025, and is administered through semi-intensive activities, lectures and courses for the ACSC. Two semesters covering academic subjects such as profession of arms, leadership and ethics, joint operations, air power and international security environment, as well as in the last month of the course also practicing War Games Exercises, students who successfully complete the course will receive credits for ACSC Joint Professional Military Education I (JPME I) and Diploma.

F-FDTL Media

Lieutenant Colonel (Grad) Salustiano de Vasconcelos