PNGDF reviving tech school

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force wants to revive its technical training school for officers, chief of training Lt Col Dickers Esso says.
Lt Col Esso told The National that they wanted to train the technical people in the force.
“We are trying to revive the old technical training unit and rename it technical training school (TTS) for the PNG Defence Force,” he said.
“All our mechanics, plumbers, electricians and carpenters will go through that.
“But for a start, once we have this initiative established by the end of 2022, new graduates will be the heavy diesel motor mechanics so that will be the first one as we go about once we meet the requirements of the regulators.
“Then we will continue to develop other courses as well.”
Lt Col Esso said in the early 2000, PNGDF downsized the force and had gaps in technical areas in ships, aircraft, technical units, engineering.
“This marks the beginning of closing those gaps in those areas,” he said.
“Because it is the beginning, we still feel that we have more to go so there are a lot of other technical areas we’ll continue to partner with Tafe for them to train a couple of our trainers to continue to ensure that the technical training school we establish will continue to deliver for the force into the future.
“The training school will be located at the Murray Barracks that is in the vicinity of the former Technical Training Unit so we will establish it but rename it as TTS.”
Lt Col Esso said PNGDF would continue to send officers to receive training so that they can be instructors.