PNGDF and ADF soldiers work side-by-side during attacks, clearances for Exercise Wantok Warrior
PNG and ADF soldiers have completed four major training missions including a high risk airport clearance. See how infantry, aviation and cavalry worked side-by-side for ex. Wantok Warrior.
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From trekking through the dense jungle, to skimming across the ocean on small boats or soaring the skyline in chinooks, soldiers in Papua New Guinea have put their skills on display in a major bilateral exercise.
Exercise Wantok Warrior has concluded in Wewak with soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), 5th Aviation Regiment (5 AVN) and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2 CAV) working together with soldiers from the 2nd Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) to complete four full mission profiles.
The officer commanding combat team Viking as part of Wantok Warrior, Major Joseph Smith, said this year’s combined arms exercise was a “step forward” from last year’s iteration.
“This year involved a number of other increases in the scope, scale and complexity of the tactical evolutions,” he said.
The first full mission profile involved an assault on Mushu island, off the coast of Wewak.
The second was a cordon and search of the Port of Wewak with soldiers being inserted via the 5th Aviations Chinooks, the 2nd Cavalry Regiments Australian light armoured vehicles (ASLAVs) and small boats.
Three infantry platoons alongside an ASLAV troop and engineer troop cleared and secured the Boram airport in Wewak as part of a high risk search for the third full mission profile.
While the fourth played out the scenario of a compromised reconnaissance mission which saw vital assets commandeered by the ‘enemy’.
“We sent forward a platoon to conduct a recovery of those assets. Specifically the surveillance and reconnaissance variant of the g-wagen that they had,” Major Smith said.
“We conducted our route clearance and convoy escort using the armoured vehicles, alongside 2RPIR and Australian combined infantry platoon.
“(They) conducted a clearance of the enemy before the fifth aviation’s CH47 helicopters were able to securely land, attach and underslung the g-wagen and extract both casualties and equipment back to Moem barracks.”
Major Smith said exercises such as Wantok Warrior were vital for the exchange of military knowledge and fortifying relationships with our pacific partners.
“Some of the key lessons that we understand, having come to the end of the exercise, is that in the heat of battle, whether you are repelling an attack or seizing grounds, the person to your left and right, what matters is trust.
“It does not matter the colour of their skin, their political affiliation, or their views. What matters is the trust that you have in them for them to do their job correctly and for them to treat you, if you are injured, just as you would treat them if they become injured as well.”
The Commanding Officer of the second Royal Pacific Island Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Vitata said conducting training with various components such as chinooks and ASLAV’s adds a lot of value to PNG’s soldiering skills.
“Due to the geopolitical environment and what’s happening in the world at this stage, we have to be equipped in terms of our capability and our skills to be able to counter those threats,” he said.
“Above all it is that network … soldiers helping each other in terms of their own soldiering skills and the ability to blend or work together.”
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Originally published as PNGDF and ADF soldiers work side-by-side during attacks, clearances for Exercise Wantok Warrior
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