RABAUL, Papua New Guinea — In a region where earthquakes, tsunamis and tropical cyclones can overwhelm communities with little warning, military leaders, government officials and disaster response professionals from across the Indo-Pacific gathered in Papua New Guinea to strengthen their ability to respond before the next disaster strikes.
Hosted in partnership with Papua New Guinea, the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Tabletop Exercise (TTX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX), led by the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, brought together military and civilian organizations to improve coordination and refine operating procedures before, during and after large-scale natural disasters.
"True readiness is not built in the aftermath of a crisis, but in the quiet spaces before it, by forging unbreakable partnerships with nations like Papua New Guinea across Oceania so that when tomorrow's disaster strikes, our combined response is seamless, swift and lifesaving," said James Kenwolf, branch chief for training and engagements at the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.
Through discussion-based planning and realistic field scenarios, participants strengthened communication, decision-making and interoperability among the organizations that would work together during a real-world humanitarian crisis.
Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Papua New Guinea faces significant risks from earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, tropical cyclones, landslides and flooding, according to the Papua New Guinea National Disaster Centre. The country's geography, dispersed population and exposure to natural hazards make it an ideal location for participants to strengthen the relationships and coordination required to respond effectively when disasters occur.
"We are prone to many hazards, including volcanoes, tsunamis and flooding," said Donald Tokunai, director of the East New Britain Provincial Disaster and Emergency Services Centre. "Building maritime partnerships helps ensure we are prepared to respond together when natural disasters and other emergencies occur."
Tokunai has led provincial responses to natural disasters, coordinated search-and-rescue operations and worked alongside multinational partners during emergency management and explosive ordnance disposal missions throughout East New Britain Province. Drawing on those experiences, he said preparedness begins long before disaster strikes.
Unlike traditional military exercises centered on combat operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response training emphasizes collaboration among military forces, host-nation governments, emergency management agencies, nongovernmental organizations and international partners. During many disasters, military forces support civilian-led response efforts, making communication, trust and clearly defined roles essential long before assistance is requested.
Participants worked through realistic disaster scenarios that challenged them to coordinate resources, establish priorities and synchronize relief efforts across multiple organizations.
The exercise began with a TTX, where participants analyzed complex emergency scenarios, discussed potential challenges and developed coordinated response plans. Those plans were then validated during the FTX, allowing participants to execute those plans in a realistic operational environment.
"For the tabletop exercise, we developed operating procedures designed to ensure a coordinated response and maximize recovery efforts while protecting our people," Tokunai said. "The field training exercise allows us to validate those plans and identify ways to improve our response before a real emergency occurs."
The exercise reflects a broader commitment by the United States and its regional partners to strengthen disaster preparedness across Oceania, where vast distances, challenging terrain and limited transportation infrastructure can complicate emergency response. By improving interoperability before disasters occur, participating nations are better positioned to provide timely humanitarian assistance when requested.
Rather than waiting until a crisis unfolds, participants use exercises like this to identify gaps, improve communication and establish professional relationships that enable faster coordination during future emergencies. Those relationships often become just as important as equipment, aircraft or supplies when responding to disasters that cross borders and overwhelm local resources.
"Every team in this room plays a part," Tokunai said. "Every organization has a responsibility. Together, we strengthen our disaster response by working alongside our partners throughout Oceania."
For Tokunai, the value of the exercise extends beyond the completion of training objectives.
"These training exercises strengthen our partnerships throughout Oceania," Tokunai said. "Our goal is to develop plans and procedures before, during and after a natural disaster so we are ready to respond together when our communities need us."
Although the disasters practiced during the exercise are simulated, the partnerships forged in Papua New Guinea are intended for real-world emergencies. Long after the final briefing concludes, participants will return home with stronger professional relationships, greater mutual understanding and a shared commitment to helping one another when future disasters inevitably test the region.
For participating nations, success will not be measured by how the exercise ends, but by how effectively those partnerships perform when communities across Oceania need them most.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2026 22:15 |
| Story ID: | 571837 |
| Location: | RABAUL, PG |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Building Readiness Across Oceania: Partners Train for Future Disasters in Papua New Guinea, by SSG Oscar Toscano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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