Royal Australian Regiment visit clarified amidst social media queries

A soldier from 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment were led through a week of Jungle Warfare Training in Queensland. Activities commenced with basic jungle skills and developed into live-fire jungle shakeouts (Supplied: Brandon Grey)

The Australian High Commission has clarified that the upcoming visit by the Australian Defence Force’s 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) is intentionally to conduct Mentor Training Team in Papua New Guinea.

Responding to social media queries, questioning the purpose of the visit, the Australian HighCom stated that 1 RAR’s deployment to PNG is only for the purpose of participating in the next Mentor Training Team activity.

As part of the longstanding defence ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea, the ADF regularly deploys Mentor Training Teams to work alongside the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

These teams deliver training and activities with the PNGDF on a rotational basis, returning home to Australia upon completion of their training activities.

Australian Defence Advisor to Papua New Guinea Lieutenant Colonel (COL) Travis Gordon said the traditional relationship shared by both countries in the military sector has allowed ADF to upskill and enhance PNGDF’s capability and capacity over the years.

Col Gordon said the partnership has strengthened and extended the defence relationship.

“The partnership between the ADF and the PNGDF plays a vital role in the broader relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“1 RAR’s travel to PNG is the first rotation this year of the longstanding Olgeta training series, focused on activities to enhance PNGDF capability and capacity. Planning for this rotation commenced in August 2023.”

“The ADF and PNGDF have a long history of cooperation that stretches back decades. This training is a continuation of that cooperation,”