PNG soldier graduates from Indonesian army

PAPUA New Guinea Defence Force officer Lt-Col Dominic Bulungol is among 99 colonels who graduated from the Indonesian military’s Command and Staff College in Bandung, West Java.
This year, he completed the 10-month training at the Indonesia military command and staff college. It is the most senior programme in the Indonesian military training schedule.
The course is a prerequisite for promotion to the rank of brigadier-general in the Indonesian military.
Officiating at the graduation ceremony, Indonesia Chief of Defence, Gen (Navy) Agus Suhartono, said they must be professionals in all their activities and encouraged the officers to lead by example.
PNG signed a defence cooperation agreement with Indonesia during the recent visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to PNG.
Bulungol hails from Ahus Island, Manus. He joined the PNGDF in 1985 and graduated from the Office Cadet School in Igam in 1987 as an infantry officer.
He held various regimental and command appointments. His most recent appointment was as commanding officer of the Second Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment at Moem Barracks, Wewak.
Dominic is a proficient Bahasa (Indonesian language) speaker having spent 12 months in 2004 studying the language.
In 2005, he attended the Indonesian Naval Staff College in Jakarta – an army officer among navy officers.