Combined operation proves success of Ex Wantok Warrior

By MAJ Martin Hadley 3 min read
Two small boats carrying three people in uniform each travel through the water with a mountainous landscape behind them.
Soldiers from 1RAR and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1st Battalion, Royal Pacific Island Regiment, practise beach landing operations near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, as part of Exercise Wantok Warrior. Photo: GNR Jesse Linards
Share:

After daybreak, on a remote beach in Papua New Guinea, overlooked by the remnants of an Australian World War II gun battery, soldiers power their Zodiacs and other small craft towards shore.

Assault pioneers and infantry soldiers from 1RAR and engineers from 3CER were joined by troops from the PNGDF’s 1st Royal Pacific Island Regiment (1RPIR).

Rapidly advancing inland, the soldiers executed their complex operation during the culminating training serial of Exercise Wantok Warrior.

CO 1RAR LTCOL Benedict Farrell said about 250 personnel from both countries combined on the exercise.

“Wantok Warrior is an annual exercise, and 1RAR has been lucky to be habitual partners with 1RPIR. We have a company and a half from 1RAR as well as combat engineers from 3CER who are building interoperability and exchanging skills with 1RPIR,” LTCOL Farrell said.

“During this exercise, we’ve had the opportunity to work with the HMPNGS Cape Gloucester heavy landing craft, and the PNGDF’s up-armoured SUVs, 12 of which were provided to Papua New Guinea by Australia in 2025.”

A man in uniform runs out of the water onto a beach holding a rifle, with belts of ammunition draped across his body.
Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldier PTE Igepe Taliva runs up the beach at Ahearn Point, Papua New Guinea, during landing operations as part of Exercise Wantok Warrior. Photo: GNR Jesse Linards

LTCOL Farrell said the exercise was the culmination of 18 months’ training in Australia.

“We have particularly focused on large-scale combat operations. However, bringing our soldiers to PNG gives them an exposure to real-time security training interaction within the community, which we just don’t do in Australia,” he said.

“It has been superb watching how our troops interact. We are fortunate that we have a lot of young and enthusiastic soldiers, and all they want to do is serve the country.

“For many of them, seniors as well, this is the first time they’ve been to PNG, and now they’ve had that opportunity to work alongside the PNGDF. The reality is, we’ve got such a great relationship with 1RPIR.”

The exercise covered a range of stability and security training serials, from cordon and strike, key asset and convoy protection, to amphibious operations and key leadership and community engagement.

CO 1RPIR LTCOL Eddie Jarope said his priority was what his troops could focus on learning and improving.

“Initially, Wantok Warrior was a one-way training opportunity with us learning training, tactics and procedures from Australia,” LTCOL Jarope said.

“But over the years, this transitioned into joint training where we continue to learn from the ADF, as well as they also learn from us. Our interoperability improves every year on Wantok Warrior and I see in the future, this series will just get bigger and better.”

Four men in uniform run on a beach holding rifles, with others in the water and on boats behind them.
Soldiers from 1RAR run up the beach during beach landing operations at Ahearn Point, Papua New Guinea, as part of Exercise Wantok Warrior. Photo: GNR Jesse Linards

See more images from Exercise Wantok Warrior.

Share:

Related stories