Tamiok Strike 23 is a bilateral exercise co-hosted by the U.S. Army and PNGDF at the invitation of the PNG government and Projects under the umbrella of Tamiok Strike 23. This will take place in Goldie River Training Depot in Port Moresby, Moem Barracks in Wewak, and Igam Barracks in Lae, until July 29. Lieutenant Colonel John Wani, Commander of PNGDF Engineer Battalion, and Captain Samuel Gest, Commander of the 95th Engineer Company, as well as Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Papua New Guinea Defence Force Soldiers celebrated the beginning of Tamiok Strike 2023 with a groundbreaking ceremony recently. The exercise involves approximately 90 U.S. and 150 PNGDF participants and aims to enhance combined interoperability capabilities through training and cultural exchanges. This exercise continues to solidify the U.S. and PNGDF partnership and advances security cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. It is the third in a continuing series of U.S. and PNG bilateral exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. Training focuses on stability operations tasks and engineer operations to build the capacity of the PNGDF. At the groundbreaking event Captain Samuel Gest stated that the groundbreaking ceremony is groundbreaking in two regards. “First, we are literally breaking ground, pushing dirt and pouring concrete. We are improving our surroundings.” “During this build we will sweat; it will not be easy, but our training and determination will allow us to succeed.” Captain Gest also stated that they are also symbolically groundbreaking for the first time in exercise Tamiok Strike history, and they are conducting a joint construction operation despite still learning how to operate and plan together; there is much promise between the two engineer forces. “Tamiok Strike 23 enhances readiness the PNGDF need to maintain a safe, stable, and secure Papua New Guinea.” The exercise also provides excellent opportunities for community, professional, and cultural exchanges that strengthen our partnership through shared learning and training. Training includes expert academic exchanges and professional development workshops that focus on stability operations tasks and engineer training at the company level and below. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of joint construction operations as well as a milestone for the exercise being the first iteration with additional joint construction operations. Tamiok Strike is a bilateral training exercise aimed at improving the combined interoperability of the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces and U.S. Forces, to increase partner capacity for conventional, complex, and future contingencies throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This is the second operation of Tamiok Strike in Papua New Guinea.