Tamiok Strike 2021 ends on high note for U.S. Army, PNG Defense Force
by Staff Sgt. Richard Perez
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TSC PAO
GOLDIE RIVER TRAINING DEPOT, Papua New Guinea — Soldiers from U.S. Army Pacific and the Papua
New Guinea Defense Force concluded exercise Tamiok Strike 2021 with a closing ceremony August 6,
that culminated with a presentaSon of a tradiSonal PNG axe, or “tamiok,” to soldiers from USARPAC.
The USARPAC sponsored exercise, which involved approximately 130 U.S. and 150 PNGDF soldiers,
enhanced combined interoperability through training and cultural exchanges and helped solidify the
U.S.-PNGDF partnership and advance security cooperaSon in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific
region.
Key speakers included Commodore Philip Polewara, deputy chief of the PNGDF, and Maj. Doug
Brownhill, execuSve officer of the 84
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Engineer Ba`alion, 130th Eng. Brigade, Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii. The 130th is part of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shaber, Hawaii.
“You took the risk to come here and do an exercise with us, I just want to say thank you very much,” said
Polewara. “Given all the challenges that are in front of us, in parScular the Sme the world is in with
COVID, I just imagine how your people had to prepare and go through the process and protocol to be
here. It was a success.”
The support from PNGDF Soldiers and leaders contributed immensely to the success of Tamiok Strike
2021.
“We’ve had an amazing Sme, one that we’ll never forget, one that we’ll learn from, and we look forward
to coming back in the near future,” said Brownhill. "We appreciate everything that your forces,
Lieutenant Kepo and the (commander), have done for us,” said Brownhill. “They’ve been outstanding
hosts.”
“We came together to keep that fire burning, to keep the relaSons between our two countries alive as
we move forward into the future, into the unknown. There are so many good things going on between
our two governments,” said Polewara.
PorSons of the exercise included expert academic exchanges and professional development workshops
that focused on tacScal infantry and engineer skills at the company level and below.
Lt. Albert Kepo, Support Company Platoon Commander of the PNG’s Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, said
the exercise enabled his unit to increase their level of informaSon, pracSce their tacScs, and learn
cooperaSon with U.S. Army forces for future acSons.
“The experience, especially the professionalism of each Soldier and the relaSonship we have built, it is
very exciSng, and it’s awesome. We’re looking forward to more and be`er in the future” said Kepo.
Exercise Tamiok Strike 2021 was an inaugural event from Jul. 26 to Aug. 6, 2021, in Port Moresby and
Lae. This bilateral exercise focused on tacScal interoperability, and was sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific
and hosted by the PNGDF.