by Mickey Kavera – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Thirty Papua New Guinea Defence Force and seven New Zealand Army soldiers graduated yesterday at the Goldie River training depot as Physical Training Instructors (PTI).
The PTI course was facilitated by the Instructors from the New Zealand Army for a duration of six weeks.
It is the first time both forces have conducted a physical training instructor course.
This is an integral part of all soldiers training to build their level of fitness.
For the PNGDF such training was lacking over the years and the commander Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo was impressed with the show of skills by his soldiers.
It is all part of his intent to lift the fitness level in the force and to professionalise the force for it to actively participate in national duties.
He urged the soldiers to impart the knowledge they have gained to their fellow colleagues in their respective units.
Toropo says any soldier within the force found to be unfit will be given a stern warning or face dismissal from the force.
He also congratulated the four women soldiers who were also the first in the force to take up the course as Physical Training Instructors.
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