Soldiers told to serve with passion

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
PNG Defence Force commander Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo has challenged his officers to serve with passion.
“When we sign into the force, it’s a life-time commitment that we have sworn an oath to serve our God, our queen and our country,” he said.
Toropo told officers during the end-of-year and memorial monument service that this was the ultimate commitment they had made and must uphold it.
He said no organisation or department has an oath to serve God, the Queen and the country except the PNGDF.
“If we align ourselves and put our plans before God, all will come to pass,” he said.
“So every end of the day, ask yourself, what have you achieved.”
Toropo warned that if they were not grounded on the their oath of service, they would be blown like the wind with no priorities.
He urged officers to reflect on their achievements throughout 2016 and make improvements in 2017 on areas they had not performed well in.
“Let us also acknowledge God’s guidance to all of us throughout this year,” he said.
Toropo said the year was very challenging because of limited funds, resources and human capacity.
He said however, the commitment of everyone and their passion in serving their call as PNGDF officers had achieved a number of a good number of outcomes.
He said some of the historic outcomes so far this year included exercise exchanges between marine forces like Koamoana and Komondo, Exercise Southern Cross.
He commend the officers involved for a job well done and urged them to continue.
Toropo urged all officers to view on 2017 as the year of operational excellence and leadership.
During the end of year service they also blessed and officially opened the monument that had the names of all PNGDF soldiers who had died in their line of duty during the Bougainville crisis.