Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Chaplain Maj. Josiah Burns Sr. the deputy command chaplain from 9th Mission...... read more read more
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Chaplain (Maj.) Josiah Burns Sr., assigned to the 9th Mission Support Command, strengthened relationships between the United States and Papua New Guinea by engaging Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) chaplains and local religious leaders during Exercise Tamiok Strike 26.
During the exercise, Burns conducted nine key leader engagements with PNGDF chaplains and 14 religious leader engagements with clergy across Papua New Guinea. The visits included six meetings in Port Moresby, three in Wewak, and five in Lae with leaders representing Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist, and other Christian denominations.
Exercise Tamiok Strike 26 is a U.S. Army Pacific-led bilateral exercise conducted with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force that strengthens interoperability, readiness, and military-to-military relationships through joint training, engineering, medical, and leader engagements. The exercise demonstrates the enduring relationship between the United States and Papua New Guinea while enhancing both forces' ability to respond to regional security and humanitarian challenges across the Indo-Pacific.
Burns traveled throughout Port Moresby, Wewak, and Lae, visiting Basilisk Station, Taurama Barracks, Goldie River Training Depot, Moem Barracks, and Igam Barracks. The engagements provided opportunities to build rapport with PNGDF chaplains, military leaders, and local clergy while gaining a deeper understanding of Papua New Guinea's religious and cultural landscape.
"This was a great opportunity for PNGDF and U.S. Army chaplains to work side by side in not only providing religious support for troops, but also to learn how to incorporate the local religious leaders into our efforts to ensure freedom of religion for all," Burns said.
The engagements emphasized the important role military chaplains and local faith leaders play in supporting service members, strengthening communities, and promoting the free exercise of religion. Discussions focused on religious support, ethical leadership, resilience, family readiness, and cooperation during humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
The relationship between the United States and Papua New Guinea is strengthened by longstanding faith-based connections. American missionaries have supported education, healthcare, and community development throughout Papua New Guinea for more than a century, while shared experiences during World War II helped establish lasting bonds between American service members and local communities. Those relationships continue to reinforce the partnership between the two nations today.
By engaging leaders from numerous denominations, Burns reinforced the U.S. Army's commitment to religious freedom, cultural understanding, and meaningful partnerships with community faith organizations. These exchanges strengthened professional relationships between U.S. Army and PNGDF chaplains while fostering trust that extends beyond military training.
Chaplain engagements remain an important component of Tamiok Strike 26, demonstrating that enduring relationships are built not only through combined military exercises but also through meaningful connections among the people who serve their nations. The relationships developed throughout the exercise reflect the shared commitment of the United States and Papua New Guinea to cooperation, mutual respect, and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
For more information, please visit Tamiokstrike.com
| Date Taken: | 07.15.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2026 00:18 |
| Story ID: | 571819 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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