By NIDRA KEWERE
THE PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) has the right attitude and mentality to form a supporting reserve force, New Zealand High Commission Defence adviser Lt-Col Mac Grace said.
Col Grace said times were changing and a reserve force would help the PNGDF perform its role.
He said the defence force in PNG, like New Zealand, was still developing and needed a lot of work to be in line with what the Australian Defence Force had in place.
“The Australian legislation is far advanced in that it facilitates and provides the assurance of employment opportunities of which PNG does not have,” Col Grace told a two-day seminar organised by the PNGDF at Holiday Inn in Port Moresby on Monday.
He said while the PNGDF was on the right track, a lot of work was still needed to be done.
“All countries need money to fund different projects and in the case of the reserve force, politicians and government bodies need to see its importance so the right equipment can be purchased to do the job,” Col Grace said.
“PNG will eventually have its troops deployed to the United Nations. It’s going to happen, whether in two years time or five years, it will happen.”
He also gave a presentation on the different strategic intents that the New Zealand Defence Force used in its reserve force as examples for the PNGDF.