Defence Force wants units broken up

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THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force intends to break up its divisions and operate under the army, navy and air force after the Apec Leaders Summit in November.
Chief of staff Captain Colonel Philip Polewara revealed this during a guard of honour inspection on Japanese naval destroyer Sazanami on Friday saying PNGDF would expand and accommodate 4800 more personnel to make up the intended 10,000-strong force mooted by the Governent a few years ago.
Polewara said the current structure of the military organisation was built by the colonial masters since independence and currently had 5200 personnel in the three divisions – navy, air force and army.
“We are restructuring the force and now all the elements of navy, air force and army are all together and will have to start break off soon to meet the challenges of the future,” Polewara said.
He said they had to look into the Acts and other associated laws relating to the existence of the Defence Force to actually restructure it by the end of the year.