Exercise Wantok Warrior 2025, a combined military training activity that brings together Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, has begun in Morobe Province.
The PNGDF and ADF troops arrived on the Wednesday CH-47F Chinook helicopters at Igam Barracks north of Lae.
Later this week a joint-force of 150 solders will conduct activities through a vacant university in Lae.
On the weekend the troops will conduct a search operation at a primary school in Lae using three Australian CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
The exercise partners the Port Moresby based 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR) Alpha Company and the PNGDF Engineering Battalion (Bravo Company) with the Townsville-based 1st Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) as well as several other ADF elements including aviation, medical and engineers.
In total around 300 hundred defence personnel from both countries will take part in WW25, conducting war fighter training between 13 – 29 October.
Wantok Warrior has been conducted annually since 2009, with the aim of building interoperability between the PNGDF and ADF to enhance defence capability in the region.
Acting Officer Commanding 1RPIR Alpha Company, Captain Jonathan Kerenge, said that WW25 sets the conditions for that engagement and interoperability as well as person to person integration.
“When you fight, you do not fight as a country, you’ve got your partners and to know them, understand their culture, that’s an important dynamic, it goes beyond boundaries,” said Captain Kerenge.
Sentiments supported by his Australian counterpart, Officer Commanding Bravo Company 1RAR, Major Patrick Hoare, who is participating in Wantok Warrior for the first time.
“It’s an opportunity to work primarily with our PNGDF partners, and we’re fortunate we have a strong relationship with 1RPIR,” said Major Hoare.
“We’ve got quite a junior team here and having the access to the different platforms and obviously the knowledge that the PNGDF bring at an individual and small teams level in invaluable to us.”
Training serials for WW25 will take place across Morobe province. At Salamaua units will conduct a small boat insertion to destroy fictitious enemy air defences and at Wau, a platoon-level assault will be carried out supported by the Chinook helicopters
No live ammunition is being used during the exercise and all activities are being conducted within strict safety and operational guidelines.
Noise management and the environment were key considerations during the planning of WW25.
The ADF thanks the PNG public, in particularly residents of Lae, for their patience and cooperation while this essential training is conducted.
Ends.
ADF soldiers from the 1RAR arrive in Lae on an ADF Chinook helicopter for Exercise Wantok Warrior 2025.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100