One week celebrations for PNGDF headquarters: Goina

THE PNG Defence Force Headquarters in Port Moresby will be celebrating its 50th anniversary for one week, says Chief of Defence Major-General Mark Goina.
The current defence force headquarters was established in January, 1966, as the PNG military command base at Murray Barracks.
It used to be just a command post linked to the then Northern Command headquarters in Australia.
“From 1964 to 1966, arms and service sub-units were raised at Murray Barracks, culminating in the raising of HQ Murray Barracks,” he said.
“A joint force headquarters was established on Feb 1, 1972, and was further designated HQ PNGDF on Jan 26, 1973.
“It is the first time we are celebrating its anniversary.
“It’s more like a birthday for the headquarters itself, not the defence force as a whole.”
He said the PNGDF had achieved a lot in the past 50 years, including the deployment of its Kumul Force to support the new independent government of Vanuatu during the Santo’s rebellion in 1980.
“Thursday, Jan 26 marks 50 years of HQ PNGDF’s existence.
“As Chief of the Defence Force, I wish to congratulate the men and women of HQ PNGDF, past and present, for their duty and service to God, King and country.”