PNG gets urban training
Volume 11, No. 47, July 13, 2006
By Capt Al Green

Well armed: PNG soldier Pte Nelson Kaung looks for action during urban training in Townsville. Photos by Capt Al Green.

PAPUA New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers have returned home following their successful training with their counterparts from 1RAR.

The PNGDF soldiers from Alpha Coy, 2 Bn, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (A Coy, 2RPIR), undertook training for operations in urban terrain at Line Creek Junction in the High Range Training Area near Townsville.

Held in June, the training was part of an annual sub-unit exchange between the Australian Army and the PNGDF, known as Exercise Wantok Warrior.
This activity reciprocated a visit to PNG by D Coy, 1RAR, in October 2005.

Wewak-based PNGDF liaison officer Capt James Smith said that the annual exchange presented an excellent opportunity for the ADF and PNGDF to practice interoperability.

“The skills and knowledge the soldiers gathered from each other will help in operations in places where both nations operate such as the Solomon Islands,” he said.

A Coy, 2RPIR, 2IC Capt Jimmy Dageyagl concurred, adding that there were other ongoing benefits to the Australian-delivered training, primarily that it helped skill-up his troops to operate safely and competently in urban terrain.

“Training for urban operations is new to our troops, so the clear advantage for us is that this training will help minimise the chance of casualties and unnecessary damage if faced with having to operate in built up areas,” he said.

A demonstration by the PNGDF troops took place at the Method of Entry Building, Lavarack Barracks.

An impressed observer was PNGDF Commander Cdre Peter Ilau. Cdre Ilau said that one valuable aspect that such exchanges presented was their role in building positive relationships.

“Constructive interaction is operating at all levels of command, and those relationships continue to be strengthened, thanks to training like this,” he said.

In the Pidgin language, Wantok means friend – a fitting title when exercising with our closest neighbour.