14 August 2013

Army Commandos Drop In

Approximately 70 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force’s 2nd Commando Regiment will be parachuting into Wewak Harbour, East Sepik Province, on Monday 19 August to mark the commencement of Exercise NIGHT NAIP, an ADF/Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) exercise that will run until 5 September.

The exercise focusses on amphibious and jungle training activities to enhance both the ADF and the PNGDF’s capability and ability to operate together. These training activities include courses jointly instructed by ADF and PNGDF members, demonstrating the mutual learning benefits that come with such a combined exercise.

Exercise NIGHT NAIP will occur in a number of locations in East Sepik Province, before an ADF element will head to Nadzab, Morobe Province to conduct another parachute jump on 4 September. This jump is significant, being in the same area as the first parachute jump Australian forces undertook in Nadzab in 1943, during the recapture of Lae in World War Two.

Participating units from the PNGDF include 2RPIR based at Moem Barracks, Wewak, the Long Range Reconnaissance Unit, and other elements from across the PNGDF. The exercise will utilise the PNGDF’s Bell 212 helicopters, which have been leased for the PNGDF through Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program.

Head of Australian Defence Staff, Colonel Dick Parker, stated “Exercises such as NIGHT NAIP demonstrate Australia’s commitment to building a more professional and capable PNGDF. They also provide an excellent opportunity for ADF members to learn from their PNGDF counterparts and to build on the already very strong links between our two Defence organisations.”