Army cadets on field exercise

 By PISAI GUMAR

PNG Defence Force officer cadets at the Igam Barracks, outside Lae, are undergoing a 14-day field exercise codenamed First Contact in the Nadzab area.

The exercise aims at testing the  skills and knowledge to be team leaders. 

Senior instructor Velmoore Kagena said that the exercise marked the end of training conducted during the first semester of the 18-month course for officer cadets.

Capt Kagena said after completion of the exercise, cadets would spend two weeks in camp to complete final lessons and assessments before going on a two-week break. 

He said exercise controller Lt Adolf Kaien had been working overtime the staff from the officer cadet training wing to ensure the scheduled exercises met all the training and assessment requirements for this phase of the course for 23 cadets. 

The exercise ends on Friday with a build-up and platoon level that signifies the introduction to the next level of training.

Kagena said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) had been instrumental in providing rations, fuel, ammunition and other requirements for the exercise. 

The ADF bought a TV, fridge, microwave and other items for the cadets’ recreation room.