Military eyes cadet programme

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
PAPUA New Guinea Defence Force Commander Major-General Mark Goina says his administration is looking to reintroduce the school military cadet programme.
Goina said the programme existed in pre-Independence times (1960s and early 1970s) in schools when PNG was still under Australian rule and now the Marape Government was keen on reintroducing the programme.
Goina said this during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Caribou Crash of 1972 at De la Salle Secondary School in Bomana last Monday.
“This event is very significant in the school’s history and also for both PNG and Australia,” he said.
He said both countries still stood together to demonstrate the importance of the anniversary.
Goina said such programmes were vital to instill discipline and command and build good character among the younger generation.
“PNGDF will play a supporting role in this programme that would be headed by the reserve force legislation,” he said.
Goina also added that this programme would come in three components.
“With the reserve force legislation, the three components are reserve force, youth programme and the school cadet programme,” he said adding that the youth programme had already started and was headed by the PNGDF’s force capability and development branch.
The intent is to allow the youths to go through a programme in collaboration with the National Youth Services and other government agencies and departments that deal with youths.
Goina said a submission had been compiled awaiting approval from the National Executive Council and from there go through Parliament to be enacted into law.
He said once that had taken place, the reserve force would be ready to roll out the programme next year.
Goina said the PNGDF would recruit new intakes next year in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.
“Going in 2023 onwards, all applicants will come through the school leavers’ form, we have established a collaboration with the higher education department to assist and screen through our requirements,” he said.
Goina said if the applicants are successful they will be sent to the recruitment as of next year.