Officer Cadet Training Wing
Prior to the re-establishment of JFA, OCTW conducted bridging courses for preparation of PNGDF Officer Cadets to undergo officer training courses overseas in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, and India. From 2005, the Unit started conducting its own officer training course in country.
Upon reestablishment of JFA in 2016, the Unit started accepting Officer Cadets from all the three disciplinary services (PNGDF, RPNGC & CS) and the inaugural Joint Forces Commissioning Course (JFCC) commenced. However, to date, the RPNGC has withdrawn from the program.
The role of the Officer Cadet Training Wing (OCTW) is to train, mentor and prepare Officer Cadets to become potential officers or junior leaders in their various services. The duration of the JFCC is 18 months and the course is conducted by a team of dedicated instructors and support staff from the PNGDF, CS and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Senior Instructor
Major Francis Mesa enlisted into the PNGDF on the 20th of February 2008 as a recruit at Goldie River Training Depot (GRDT). After completing 6 months of Basic Recruit Training he was selected to continue Officer Cadet Training at Defence Academy in Igam Barracks. Upon completing Basic Officer Cadet Training he was selected to continue his officer training at the Royal Military College in Duntroon, Australia.
Graduating as a Second Lieutenant in June of 2011, he was posted to the Second Royal Pacific Island Regiment (2IPIR) in Moem Barracks, Wewak, East Sepik Province as a Platoon Commander. In 2015 he was posted to the Defence Academy as an Instructor at the Officer Cadet Training Wing (OCTW). In January 2018 he was posted as a Staff Officer Grade Three (3), at the Directorate of Officer Management, Headquarter, Murray Barracks, where he spent a year. Mesa was than posted as the PNGDF Exchange Instructor to the Officer Cadet School (OCS), Waiouru, New Zealand from 2019 t0 2021.
After completing his three year posting to New Zealand, he was posted back to the Joint Forces Academy as the Senior Instructor Officer Cadet Training Wing in January 2022.
Wing Sergeant Major
Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Ravaita Pokana enlisted into the PNGDF on the 31st of January 1990 as a recruit at Goldie the River Training Depot (GRTD). After completing four (4) months of Basic Recruit Training he was posted to Charlie Company, First Royal Pacific Island Regiment (1RPIR) as a Rifleman. while serving there he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and continued there for twenty two (22) years.
In January 2012 he was posted to the Defence Academy and saw the transition to the Joint Forces Academy, where to date he has served ten (10) years. In 2014 he was promoted to the rank of Sargent and in 2019 to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two (2.) Pokana is the Wing Sargent Major (WSM) of the OCTW.
WO Pokana’s operational experience include 1 tour on border operations and 8 tours to Bougainville during the Crisis. He was also deployed on Papua New Guinea’s Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in 2013.
WO Pokana is married to wife Gita and they have 4 children and a grandson.
Joint Forces Commissioning Course (JFCC)
The Joint Forces Commissioning Course (JFCC) is the initial in-country course in the career of a commissioned officer in the three disciplinary services. Selected candidates deemed suitable by each of the services undergo the course for employment as a general service officer in the PNGDF, RPNGC and the PNGCS.
The aim of the JFCC is to train and prepare suitable candidates for commissioning as Second Lieutenants in the PNGDF or Inspectors in the RPNGC and PNGCS.
The JFCC is conducted over a period of eighteen (18) months and is phased into three (3) blocks consisting of six months:
- Crawl Phase,
- Walk Phase, and
- Run Phase.
The aim of the first six (6) months or the Crawl Phase is to train and mentor the officer cadets to become effective team members. The focus here is attention to detail and getting the basics right.
The aim of the Walk Phase is to train and mentor the trainees to become effective team leaders. During this phase, the emphasis is on command, leadership, and management.
The final phase emphasizes on professional mastery. This is where officer cadets are expected to excel or go beyond what they have been trained the past 12 months. Officer cadets are expected to display initiative, intuition, critical thinking, and command presence. During this phase, it also referred to as the Single Service Training (SST) whereby the officer cadets are separated into their relevant services and undergo core specific training.
JFCC is mentally and physically challenging, and the course comprises of physical training, theory lessons and field exercises.
Word to Parents & Guardians
Your son or daughter has made the decision to join the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, PNG Correctional Service, or the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary as an Officer Cadet. The Joint Forces Commissioning Course is a long and demanding course. In order for your son or daughter to successfully complete the course, a high degree of commitment, patience and dedication is required, therefore, your support and understanding is essential.
The Initial Cadet Training (ICT) phase will be a time in which contact with family and friends will be minimal. All mobile phones will be confiscated during the first eight weeks of the course. Throughout this period parents and guardians are encouraged to utilize the points of contact provided on the website.
Leave and Holidays
Local leave within the Lae CBD is granted to Cadets every weekend when not on Field Exercise or confined to barracks. This is only granted to Cadets when they pass the Crawl Phase of the Course.
Cadets are allowed local leave from 0800h -1600h (8am – 4pm) every Saturday and Sunday and are restricted to within the city limits only.
Due to the hectic training regime for the Cadets, there is only one semester break during the year and the Christmas Break taken with the rest of the PNGDF at the end of the year. Cadets are encouraged to return home to their families to rest and recuperate during this period.
All Nationally Gazetted Public Holidays are observed. Exceptions are only whilst out on Field Exercises.
Apply to join the PNGDF
Your application MUST be addressed to: Director Recruitment, Directorate of Recruitment, Headquarters PNGDF, Murray Barracks, Free Mail Bag, BOROKO, National Capital District.
Interested young Papua New Guineans, both male and female aged between 20 and 26 and holds a Diploma or Degree are encouraged to submit expression of interest to join PNGDF through the Cadet Training Program.
Your Application must include:
- A covering Letter Expressing your interest.
- A current Passport Size Photo.
- Copy of your Diploma or Degree.
- Copy of Academic Transcripts.
- Copy of Grade 10 and 12 Certificate.
- Copy of Birth Certificate/ NID Card
- Copy of a Current Police Clearance.
- Two (2) Original Character Reference from
- Church Pastor/ Leader/ Church Elder/ Priests.
- Community Leader/ Magistrate/ Councilor.
IMPORTANT: ALL COPIES ARE TO BE CERTIFIED BY A COMMISSIONER OF OATH.
The red marker is where the Recruiting Office is located in Murray Barracks. Switch to satellite imagery to see the office location.