1RPIR

The battalion marched a combined 27 km along the Magi highway towards their battalion headquarters at Taurauma.

The March was a culmination of their Mission Rehearsal exercise as part of their APEC 2018 security preparations.

According to the Battalion Commander, Lt Colonel Boniface Aruma, the march is part and parcel of any training ahead of major troop operations.

He said that as part of the fitness assessment activity each soldier is required to complete a 27km march with a 30kg pack in full field gear.

The Delta Company of the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment are on standby to be sent over to the province.

According to the Chief of Joint Operations, Colonel Ezekia Wenzel, the thirty plus troops will be sent over to relieve the current Alpha Company that has been on duty there for the past four months.

Colonel Wenzel says that the troops have been tasked to reinforce exiting security on ground while at the same time maintain a presence on ground.

This role is taken to heart, as the regiment is tasked to be the military institution to lead and assist police with security during the event.

The troops were given more encouragement on Friday from Minister responsible for APEC, Justin Tkatchenko at the Commanding Officer’s beginning of the year parade. 

While preparations are in full swing, one of the greatest concern and challenge is security.

Tkatchenko is however confident that with the support of bilateral partners; security will not be an issue.

Napyo said the PNGDF is a volunteer force but warn soldiers that if they do not conform to and work within the confines of the Code of Conduct in the PNGDF; they are subjected to the PNGDF Code of Military discipline.

“I want us to fear the system because the PNGDF will discharge soldiers who do not obey these rules,” he says.