By Stanley Ove Jr – EM TV, Port Moresby
Over 177 PNG Defence Force intakes successully completed their recruit training yesterday at the Goldie River Training Department.
While it was a day of celebration for their families, the new recruits are now tasked to defend the country with their lives if necessary.
Present to witness the graduation were Defense Minister Fabian Pok, PNGDF Commander Brigadier General, Gilbert Toropo and other dignitaries present at the ceremony.
Minister Pok in his keynote address to the new recruits said they will now have to sacrifice a lot to serve the country. He said many will live away from their families which is a sacrifice many service men and women in the country have faced.
The Minister also mentioned the government’s and PNGDF’s 5000 recruiting quota of 2017.
This is a challenge for the PNGDF as it still struggles with problems in its infrastructure and logistics. Another prolonged problem is the outstanding payments of retired soldiers.
Moreover with the K262million allocated for the PNGDF in the 2015 budget, the Government will commit to develop the entire Defense organisation in the coming years.
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