The U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization (SATMO) has reported significant progress in its ongoing training partnership with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
Over the past two weeks, the SATMO team has conducted intensive training in Small Unit Tactics (SUT) and advanced medical skills at the Goldie River Training Depot and Murray Barracks.
MSG Hans Moeller II, SATMO team leader, shared the team’s enthusiasm:
“The SATMO team is excited to return to Papua New Guinea to continue training in Small Unit Tactics and advanced medical skills with the 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR).”
He added:
“This training builds on last year’s engagement, aiming to enhance PNGDF’s leadership and tactical capabilities, while also strengthening their ability to respond to disasters and provide life-saving care to civilians. It’s a demanding but rewarding mission, and we’re confident the PNGDF will rise to the challenge.”
Advancing Medical Training
The PNGDF Medical Training Team (MTT) has successfully completed the first two weeks of a four-week program. The sessions focused on Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS), including comprehensive assessments of all essential skills.
Thirteen trainees demonstrated strong teaching abilities through detailed “teach-back” sessions, proving they’re ready to become instructors themselves.
The second week covered a wide range of topics: patient assessment, defibrillation, respiratory emergencies, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, cardiac arrest, and post-arrest care. Trainees are now prepared to enter the Limited Primary Care phase, a critical component of the “train-the-trainer” initiative.
Warrior Course: Small Unit Tactics
The SUT program, known as the “Warrior Course,” has enrolled 38 participants. Despite severe flooding near the Goldie River site, the training achieved major milestones.
The highlight of the second week was Range Day, where trainees completed familiarization firing with MAG58 (M240) machine guns, practicing on both bipod and tripod setups.
Training also included:
- High-angle and low-angle casualty evacuations
- Combat casualty care refresher
- Casualty collection point and helicopter landing zone (HLZ) operations
- Weapons systems instruction
The upcoming sessions will focus on combat drills and field training exercises, bringing together all elements of the tactical program.
Strengthening Bilateral Military Ties
This ongoing initiative reflects the U.S.’s sustained support for PNGDF, particularly significant as 2025 marks both the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the United States.
The training underscores the deepening military cooperation between the two nations, with the shared goal of enhancing PNGDF’s readiness, resilience, and regional capacity.
