Ekerime happy to serve country

The National National
Sgt Enoch Singoro Ekerime attending to a Correctional Service cadet who was part of the Joint Forces Academy final-year cadets during their training at Situm, Nawaeb. – Nationalpic by BRADLEY MARIORI

By BRADLEY MARIORI
YOUNG people can benefit much from joining the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and they are encouraged to join to broaden their knowledge.
Sergeant Enoch Singoro Ekerime, 46, from Koko village in Unggai-Bena, Eastern Highlands was a proud man after joining the force in 1996.
He now works as a nurse.
Ekerime did his grades one to six at Unggai Community School from 1982 to 1987. Since starting school, he always dreamt of putting on a PNGDF uniform.
He continued on to Lufa High School where he did his grades seven to 10 from 1988 and applied to various colleges around the country but was not successful because he had low marks. He went to the college of distant education (Code) in Goroka in 1992 where he upgraded his marks.
In 1993, there was a mass recruitment in Goroka and Ekerime was among 18 people selected for training.
Sadly, he couldn’t make it with the 18 because he was mistaken for his uncle and namesake who had some criminal record.
“This didn’t stop me from pursuing my dream to be a soldier,” Ekerime said.
“1994 I cleared myself with the criminal investigation division (CID) in Goroka because I was using the same name as my uncle and in that same year, I went to Port Moresby and fixed this.
“In 1995, the recruitment space was full and in 1996, I was considered and went for psychological test because I did other tests already.”

“ All trades and different fields of work are in the force and I encourage young people to join the force.”
Sgt Ekerime at Situm, Nawaeb during Joint Forces Academy cadet training on Saturday. – Nationalpic by BRADLEY MARIORI

He went to Goldie Barracks where he completed basic recruitment training and after six months, he was posted to the Second Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) in Moem Barracks and was attached to the Charlie Company.
In 1998-1999, he was in and out of Bougainville during the Bougainville Crisis.
“In 2000 my wife was expecting our first son and I stayed back and didn’t go with the team to Bougainville.
“I served with 2RPIR until 2005 where I received a combat medic course with reconnaissance – a highly trained force.
“I completed the course and went back to Wewak (Moem) and in 2006 I was posted to support company – medical platoon with 2RPIR Moem Barracks.
“From 2006 to 2016 I served in 2RPIR and in 2017, I put in papers to be posted out because I had served for a long time and I needed to come back close to home and prepare myself to retire.
“So the nearest place to home is Igam Barracks. When I applied, there was a sergeant’s position there so I was advised to go to Igam Barracks,” he said.
Currently, he is at the medical centre in Igam Barracks.
He said this was his 26th year with PNGDF and he was planning to retire after serving PNGDF for 30 years.
“My advice to young people is that there are many opportunities in the defence force.
“All trades and different fields of work are in the force and I encourage young people to join the force.
“If you don’t have the knowledge, you will learn many things while in here.
“When I was small, my aim was to be a soldier and I have achieved that.
“I was trained as a combat medic and I was allowed to work on soldiers only because I don’t have a certificate from the PNG Nursing Council but my qualification is the same as CHWs in the civilian organisations,” he said.