PNGDF staff, cadets attend field exercise

 PAPUA  New Guinea Defence officer cadets from Igam Barracks in Lae are at Wawin, Wampar in Huon Gulf, Morobe, on an 11-day field exercise to test their skills and knowledge.

The exercise plans to test the cadets ability to command, lead and manage a platoon of 30 men and women in conducting offensive operations in a conventional environment. 

Six members from the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) from the Australian Defence Force to Mentoring Training Team (MTT) are helping to train the staff and cadets.

Senior instructor Capt Velmoore Kagena said the MTT was led by Capt Joel Waterhouse and Sgt ‘Texas’ Walker who were instrumental in providing valuable training to staff and cadets in line with the objectives of the course. 

“They conducted an urban operations training for the staff of the Officer Cadet Training Wing (OCTW) to qualify the instructors to train the cadets in urban operations training in next year,” he said.

“They assisted in conducting and assessing theoretical tactical exercises and practical field training for the cadets before deploying for Exercise Windbreaker.” 

The 3RAR was deployed as part of the directing staff and instructors to help in training and assessing the cadets.

Walker and three others helped staff from the OCTW to conduct a PNGDF recruiting drive awareness at Wawin National High School.