The contingent will be predominantly infantry, together with necessary support elements such as transport, communications, logistics, intelligence and medical units. Personnel have had injections, briefings and intensive training, leave and courses cancelled, wills prepared. Equipment has been checked and supplies and munitions replenished. And detailed plans have been made. Not all countries will be as far advanced.
Several tasks face the planners.
Getting troops and their equipment to East Timor is not easy. Troops can be conveyed by RAAF Hercules and the Navy's catamaran but transporting light armoured vehicles and armoured personnel carriers by sea will be much slower. Australia has minimal airlift capacity and planners probably wish they had twice as many Hercules or a few C-5 Galaxy. The Blackhawk helicopters can fly across without refueling. Securing means of entry in order to maintain a continuous flow of supplies and personnel will be a first priority.