Morobe Governor Rainbo Paita has intensified scrutiny on the Papua New Guinea Defence Force recruitment process, questioning the transparency and criteria used in selecting recent intakes.
His concerns come in the wake of a viral social media video showing new recruits at the Goldie River Military Training Depot, which sparked widespread public criticism and debate over the eligibility of some candidates.
Speaking in Parliament on the March 20, 2026, Paita openly challenged Defence Minister Dr. Billy Joseph to clarify how recruits are being assessed and selected.
“What process are we using to recruit these young men and women?” Paita questioned.
“We have clear expectations that members of the Defence Force should be young. Why are we now seeing individuals who appear older? Should we pause this process and address these concerns”
Paita further called for full disclosure of the recruitment list, including names, identification and provincial representation, to restore public confidence.
“We want integrity to be upheld. Bring the list so we can be comfortable with the selection,” he said.
In response, Defence Minister Joseph defended the recruitment system, stating that the process was conducted online to minimize outside influence and ensure fairness.
“The process was removed from myself and senior officials to maintain transparency,” he said.
“All applicants went through proper procedures, and PNGDF remains a national institution guided by merit.”
Joseph also confirmed that provincial quotas were considered to ensure nationwide representation and announced that another recruitment drive is expected around August.
Addressing the viral video, he clarified that the individual criticized is a 24-year-old third-year university student, well within the acceptable recruitment age.
He also condemned the circulation of unverified content, describing it as unprofessional and raising concerns about online bullying.
However, the issue continues to attract national attention, with growing calls for accountability and greater transparency in PNGDF recruitment.
