A MAN who grew up on a banana farm in the Tweed before becoming a radio broadcaster in Victoria is now going further afield with the army in East Timor.

Army reservist Lieutenant Ted Guinea is heading to East Timor in the new year if he survives Christmas back at home in Dunbible.

"I joined up after uni and after years of training I'll soon be commanding 40 diggers in a real-world operation," Lt Guinea said.

"It's a long way from a Tweed banana farm but the platoon is from rural NSW and Victoria so there'll be a whole bunch of country larrikins coming with me.

"It's the first overseas deployment for most of us."

Lt Guinea said he hoped his time in East Timor would make a "positive difference" to the people.

"My job will cover everything from organising the diggers tactically to making sure they stay healthy and get enough rest between patrols," he said.

"But before we go, there will be long days and lots of training.

"So far I've been through a CS gas attack and learned how to escape from a helicopter blindfolded while it's upside down in the water."

Lt Guinea will spend eight months in East Timor with the diggers and is due back in October 2012.

"I'm already looking forward to that first drink at the 'Imperial'," Ted said.

The Australian-led International Stabilisation Force is in-country at the invitation of the East Timorese government.