WEWAK, PAPUA NEW GUINEA— The Security Assistance Training Management Organization (SATMO) Mobile Training Team (MTT) recently completed a rigorous four-week training cycle with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). The comprehensive curriculum successfully integrated tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) and small unit tactics (SUT) to enhance the operational readiness and life-saving capabilities of the partner force.
Building on the success of previous rotations to Papua New Guinea this was the first MTT training conducted in Wewak in the northern region of the country. Previous iterations of MTT Training were conducted in the southern region of the country at Goldie River Training Depot near Port Moresby. The geography and transportation challenges within Papua New Guinea limit access to centralized training making agile MTTs the best solution to improving the overall proficiency and interoperability of the PNGDF.
Establishing Medical and Tactical Foundations The training kicked off with a heavy focus on core TCCC concepts and the execution of casualty assessment. Instructors introduced PNGDF personnel to critical medical evacuation equipment, including tactical litter usage, and splints, establishing a strong baseline for casualty assessment and evacuation procedures. The second week marked a pivotal transition from the medical phase to tactical operations. The medical training culminated with rigorous TCCC trauma lane evaluations to validate student proficiency. Following the medical evaluations, the SUT cadre took the lead establishing foundational tactical procedures. Instructors conducted walk-through/talk-through (WT/TT) exercises designed to build baseline comprehension of squad leadership roles, troop leading procedures (TLPs), and formation order of movement (FOOM).
PNGDF students were challenged to execute situational training exercise (STX) lanes in simulated tactical environments. The PNGDF successfully integrated operation order (OPORD) development, ambush tactics, and reactions to indirect fire (IDF) while simultaneously managing TCCC and mass casualty (MASCAL) scenarios. This final phase successfully validated the tactical and medical proficiency of the PNGDF students, proving their ability to apply the foundational skills learned over the month in realistic, applied scenarios.
“The objective of the MTT was to train on TCCC and SUT, improving their ability to conduct operations at the squad level and below in an austere jungle environment. Training on team and squad movements bolsters their confidence and capability as the primary defense force for Papua New Guinea, while the ability to provide rapid aid and evacuation to a higher level of care ensures safety and survival of their service members,” Said SFC Ryan Moeller, an instructor with the MTT. “The PNGDF’s commitment to sharing experience and learning new techniques was the driving force for the success of this training. It was an absolute pleasure instructing this course for them.”
Enduring Commitment to Pacific Island Partners This recent training iteration is a direct reflection of SATMO’s enduring commitment to Papua New Guinea and its Pacific neighbors. Central to this relationship is the deep coordination between the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) and SATMO’s deployed Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT). By operating in tandem on the ground, the OSC and the TAFT ensure that MTT training objectives align perfectly with long-term bilateral security goals.
The TAFT provides a persistent advisory presence, sustaining the momentum of MTT training cycles and assisting the PNGDF in building long-term tactical, medical, and logistical self-sufficiency. Since the bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) was signed in 2023, the partnership with the PNGDF expanded. This mission represents SATMO's continuing commitment with future MTT deployments to Papua New Guinea bolsters the PNGDF's capability to respond to domestic disasters, provide lifesaving aid to local populations, and increasing interoperability with Pacific partners.