Papua New Guinea Defence Force

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s lone medium range twin engine aircraft, CASA CN 235-100M is still undergoing maintenance and will be grounded for an indefinite period.

Confirmed by PNGDF Chief of Force Preparation, Colonel Siale Diro yesterday, the aircraft will remain grounded as it goes through a thorough prerequisite check.

“CASA is currently going through a maintenance requirement check,” he said.

Colonel Diro said they are in liaison and close consultation with CASA PNG to make unsurpassed efforts to have CASA operational as soon as possible.

The communications equipment will enhance the conduct of PNGDF training and operations with APEC 2018 being an obvious near term focus, all the while assisting with the rejuvenation and capacity development of PNGDF capability as a long term objective.

PNGDF Chief of Force Preparations, Colonel Siale Diro, said this is a game changer for PNGDF.

The communication equipment are inclusive of;

PNG Defence Force Commander, Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo, confirmed this, saying: “Payments have been made to order the parts of the gear box from overseas.”

The Commander however, did not give a response to how much it would cost to have the propeller gear box (PGB) fully serviced.

According to the Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), the aircraft sustained an engine failure on 13^th July 2016 during a flight from Telefomin to Vanimo, Sandaun Province, necessitating the removal of the right engine PGB at Vanimo Aerodrome. 

Under the current circumstances, where commodity prices are being affected by the world market, the PNGDF have aligned their priorities to make sure their core activities, such as border patrol, response to national disasters, maritime surveillance, response to internal security issues and preparations for APEC Leaders’ Summit, are given precedence.

The 2013 white paper is a 76-page document that outlines key and main focus areas to help build new capabilities, which also requires huge funding and commitments.

They will provide back up support with regards to the law and order issues and the PNG LNG site security concerns at the Hides gas conditioning plant.

PNGDF Commander, Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo, informed this newsroom whilst giving an update of the troops’ operations and work up in the province.

Along with recent decisions made by the National Executive Council to extend the period of the callout, troops have been deployed since after the elections and have continued to maintain presence in the province.

This year will see the hosting of the APEC Leaders’ Summit in PNG and the PNG Defence Force is expected to play a significant role in ensuring that security and the environment is conducive for 21 APEC world leaders.

This was reiterated in the PNGDF Commander’s keynote address in yesterday’s mass.

Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo said: “It is in my view that as we start 2018, we commit the year to God as you and I know our calling is to serve our government and to serve our people.”

Currently still in training, the band consists of 33 males and 8 females who have been training at the PNGDF Goldie Barracks, outside Port Moresby.

The band members kickstarted the first phase of their training early this year in January through to March.

They carried on to complete the second phase in September and just recently started the third and final phase of band training, which will end in March 2018.

Three band members are currently in Japan to attend a conductor’s course.

PNGDF Unit marks 21st anniversary

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/pngdf-unit-marks-21st-anniversary-55251

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force Long Range Reconnaissance Unit (LRRU) today held an open day at the PNGDF Goldie Depot to celebrate its 21st anniversary.

Unemployed people invited to sign up for jobs

Dual citizenship to become reality next month

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/dual-citizenship-become-reality-next-month-52380

Applications for Dual Citizenship will be ready by March this year.

Senior PNGDF officers promoted

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/senior-pngdf-officers-promoted-52381

PNGDF today announced the promotion and appointment of three senior officers.

Lieutenant Colonels Anthony Oawa, Lt Col Andrew Ringrowe Dopeke and Lt Col Albert Palauva were promoted to the rank of Colonel. 

Col Oawa has been appointed as Chief of Personnel, Col Dopeke as Defence Attaché’ to the United Nations in New York and Col Palauva is Defence Attaché’ to New Zealand.

Toropo said PNGDF has been working very hard to transform and improve on some of its systems and processes since the launching of the Defence White Paper in 2013.