Soldiers told to stay on target

SOLDIERS have been urged to remain vigilant and continue to reach and improve standards.
PNGDF Commander Brig-Gen Gilbert Toropo says the force has risen to many challenges this year and in all likelihood will have to do so again next year.
Speaking at the commander’s end-of-the-year parade at Murray Barracks last Friday, Toropo said the challenges were testimony to how far they had come.
The parade was staged by all Port Moresby base units and a showcase of some of the military assets and for the first time, the new PNGDF Brass Band performed.
“We rose to the challenges, more recently at short notice yet again to security threats in the Highlands with forces in support of the LNG project, a critical national asset,” Toropo told soldiers.
“Our ability to address the range and extent of the challenges we have in 2017, would have been difficult but was done without complaint and in a professional manner.
“The challenge for all of us is to remain vigilant, to continue to reach and improve on this standard.”
In highlighting some of their achievements since 2013, Toropo said the force would have required dedicated effort and teamwork from every individual.
“As you can see the work we have been doing all along, be it housing, development in condition of services, border patrols, launching of the catering project or our Kumul leadership framework or the completion of the companies of excellence programme,” he said
“All these activities, along with many others, do require your dedicated effort and teamwork.
“With a very high operational tempo this year, it also serves to reinforce the need for all our force elements, particularly our air and maritime platform, to be operationally ready.”
Toropo stated the three key target areas of progress in 2018 would be the establishment of a joint services college, the development of a forward deployment combat services support teams and progress in gender integration.