Editing Papua New Guinea Defence Force (section)

===Current organisation===
[[File:PNGDF soldier during a training exercise in April 2017.jpg|thumb|A PNGDF soldier in 2017]]
The Land Element is directly commanded by the Commander PNGDF, Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo, and has been significantly reduced in size due to restructuring (from 3,500 to 1,800 as of late 2007) and currently comprises the following:<ref name=JanesArmies/>

* Command HQ (Port Moresby);
* two light Infantry battalions of the [[Royal Pacific Islands Regiment]] (1 RPIR at Port Moresby and 2 RPIR at [[Wewak]]);
* Long Range Reconnaissance Unit;
* one Engineer battalion ([[Lae]]);
* Signals Squadron (Port Moresby);
* EOD unit;
* Preventative Health Platoon; and
* Defence Academy (Lae)<ref>{{cite news|title=Officer cadet training progressing|url=http://www.looppng.com/content/officer-cadet-training-progressing|access-date=5 August 2015|work=Loop PNG|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828161713/http://www.looppng.com/content/officer-cadet-training-progressing|archive-date=28 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

A ceremonial guard was established in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gabina|first1=Lorraine|title=PNG Defence Force Year in Review|url=http://www.emtv.com.pg/article.aspx?slug=PNG-Defence-Force-Year-in-Review-&|access-date=28 December 2015|work=EM TV News|date=4 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202617/http://www.emtv.com.pg/article.aspx?slug=PNG-Defence-Force-Year-in-Review-&|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The army's main bases include Port Moresby, Wewak and Lae, while [[Company (military unit)|company]] strength outstations are located at [[Kiunga, Papua New Guinea|Kiunga]] and [[Vanimo]]. Communications centres are found at all of these locations and also on Manus island. Papua New Guinea has large areas of uninhabited jungle suitable for training. A training depot is maintained at Goldie River near Port Moresby and at Lae.<ref name=JanesArmies/>

Historically the army has been poorly trained; however Australia has recently made this the focus of the Enhanced Defence Partnership programme, supplying training, advisors and equipment. New Zealand is also contributing training assistance under its Mutual Assistance Programme. Equally army personnel have in the past trained with the French in New Caledonia, while US Special Forces have occasionally undertaken joint exercises in PNG. At present, however, over 90 per cent of the budget is dedicated to pay and retrenchments, and as a consequence there is little left to fund training exercises. While most soldiers are not currently formally qualified for their rank, there are determined moves to professionalise the army after the restructure is complete. Indeed, the army has an officer training academy and a small trade training capacity, which is being boosted by Australian personnel. A small number of officer candidates also undertake training at the [[Royal Military College Duntroon|Royal Military College – Duntroon]], in [[Canberra]]. Australian procedures are followed as a matter of course, and their influence is increasing as more joint training exercises are held.<ref name=JanesArmies/>

==== Long Range Reconnaissance Unit ====
The Long Range Reconnaissance Unit (LRRU) is a small infantry unit responsible for providing small reconnaissance teams for patrols in tropical rainforests, wetlands and in the highlands and counter terrorist capabilities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Long Range Reconnaissance Unit |url=http://www.pngdefence.gov.pg/index.php/2016-05-11-12-36-38/long-range-reconnaissance-unit |website=Papua New Guinea Defence Force |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125174323/http://www.pngdefence.gov.pg/index.php/2016-05-11-12-36-38/long-range-reconnaissance-unit |archive-date=25 November 2016 |access-date=25 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1996, the Special Forces Unit (SFU) was formed which was later renamed the LRRU.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mou |first1=Freddy |title=PNGDF Unit marks 21st anniversary |url=http://www.looppng.com/png-news/pngdf-unit-marks-21st-anniversary-55251 |access-date=27 May 2017 |work=Loop PNG |date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514045056/http://www.looppng.com/png-news/pngdf-unit-marks-21st-anniversary-55251 |archive-date=14 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The LRRU has trained with the Australian [[Special Air Service Regiment]] (SASR) and the [[New Zealand Special Air Service]] (NZSAS) in PNG in its reconnaissance role for many years.<ref>{{cite news|title=PNG-NZ army exercise underway |url=http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=152339025751ac063aea7c73e79d02 |access-date=1 November 2015 |work=Pacific Islands News Association |date=3 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818091457/http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=152339025751ac063aea7c73e79d02 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, the LRRU commenced developing a counter terrorist capability for the [[APEC Papua New Guinea 2018|APEC]] Summit held in 2018, it received new equipment in preparation for this.<ref name="The National">{{cite news|last1=Faiparik |first1=Clifford |title=PNGDF unit needs specialist weapons: Director |url=http://www.thenational.com.pg/pngdf-unit-needs-specialist-weapons-director/ |access-date=27 May 2017 |work=The National |date=1 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707102615/http://www.thenational.com.pg/pngdf-unit-needs-specialist-weapons-director/ |archive-date=7 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The LRRU then provided a response capability for the [[2015 Pacific Games|Pacific Games]] in July 2015, with training provided by Australian Army [[Special Operations Command (Australia)|Special Operations Command]] units and the NZSAS.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sharing skills in PNG |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1354/1354.pdf |access-date=1 November 2015 |work=Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper |publisher=Department of Defence |issue=1354 |date=2 July 2015 |page=7 |issn=0729-5685 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110424/http://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1354/1354.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Long Range Recon Unit Assembled For Pacific Games |url=https://emtv.com.pg/recon-unit-assembled-for-pacific-games/ |work=EMTV |access-date=28 December 2019 |date=2 June 2015}}</ref>

The Warrior Wing established in the 1990s by [[United States special operations forces|U.S. Special Forces]] consists of experienced LRRU soldiers who provide reconnaissance training and coordinate exercises with foreign units.<ref>{{cite press release|title=USARPAC Commander honors Army History throughout South Pacific Region in Goodwill Tour |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/186241/usarpac-commander-honors-army-history-throughout-south-pacific-region-goodwill-tour |website=Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System |access-date=28 May 2017 |date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930171052/https://www.dvidshub.net/news/186241/usarpac-commander-honors-army-history-throughout-south-pacific-region-goodwill-tour |archive-date=30 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>