19 August 2014

Exercise Night Naip Approaches

More than 30 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force’s 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Operations Engineering Regiment will be parachuting in the vicinity of Fishermen’s Island, Port Moresby on Thursday 21 August.

The event will mark the commencement of Exercise Night Naip, an annual Australian Defence Force (ADF)/Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) exercise that will run until 4 September.

Head of Australian Defence Staff in PNG, Colonel Dick Parker said the exercise will focus on a range of military skills, including major event security, combat decision making and medical training.

“The major event security training is part of Australia’s support to the PNGDF’s preparations for 2015 Pacific Games, and in the longer-term 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC),” Colonel Parker said.

Under the Defence Cooperation Program, Australia is assisting the PNGDF to enhance its capabilities so that it can conduct major event security effectively, within a whole of PNG Government framework.

Exercise Night Naip will occur in a number of locations in and around Port Moresby. Training activities aim to enhance both the ADF and the PNGDF’s capability and ability to operate together. ADF and PNGDF members will jointly deliver courses, demonstrating the mutual learning benefits that come with combined exercises.

“Exercises such as Night Naip remind us of Australia’s and Papua New Guinea’s historical relationship and reinforce the ADF’s ongoing commitment to the PNGDF as it builds its capability. We are particularly excited about assisting the PNGDF build its skills in major event security, as PNG prepares to showcase itself to the world through its hosting of APEC in 2018,” Colonel Parker said.