US Army Boosts Disaster Response Training for PNGDF

PNGDF Members

​The United States Army has provided additional disaster response training to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). This collaborative effort, which also involved the PNG National Disaster Centre (NDC), took place from June 18 to 21.

Lieutenant Colonel Brian Krieck of the US Army’s Ninth Mission Support Command highlighted the significance of the exercise, stating, “Disasters cannot often be avoided, but they can be mitigated through proper planning, coordination, and understanding between those responding and those affected, whether human or natural disasters.”

The training was facilitated by the Institute for Security Governance and featured speakers from various organizations, including the United Nations, NDC, the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Center for Excellence – Disaster Management, the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, and the Australian Civil-Military Centre.

The exercise saw participation from over 22 individuals, representing the PNGDF, PNG Fire Service, NDC Youths, Department of Education, Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs, Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-hazards, and Caritas PNG. Key topics covered included humanitarian assistance, coordination with international and civil society organizations, "whole of community" approaches to disaster response, migrants in crisis, and disaster recovery. The training culminated in a full-day simulation, where participants practiced responding to earthquakes, power outages, and humanitarian crises at both national and provincial levels.

On the final day, Major Ryan McCauley of the US Embassy Office of Defence Cooperation expressed the United States' support for Papua New Guinea in light of the May 24 landslide in Mulitaka, Enga. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between nations and agencies, reflecting on the training's real-world applications. “Through shared understanding, our agencies and the professionals who work in them are better prepared to plan as well as respond to disasters. The real-world applications of this training are critical for every organization involved and will help save lives and rebuild communities through better preparation,” McCauley said.

Lieutenant Colonel Silas Auro of the PNGDF also underscored the training's significance, stating, “Disasters affect human beings; they affect our families. Whatever we’ve gained this week is of importance to us, gaining information, assessing the situation, and being prepared.”

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