Approximately 15 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers, airmen, and emergency management employees trained Papua New Guinea Defence Force service members and about 90 local civilian volunteers in humanitarian aid and disaster response in Lae, Papua New Guinea, from August 11-14, 2026.
The training was conducted as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program with Papua New Guinea, which began officially in 2020. The partnership has since expanded to include military exchanges focused on disaster response, engineering, medical readiness, leadership development, and regional security throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The exercise, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, also included personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Pacific Command, along with volunteers from the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society and staff from the U.S. Embassy, the International Organization for Migration, and other humanitarian organizations.
Training covered search and evacuation procedures, first aid and medical treatment, site security, and engineering techniques including knot tying, mechanical advantage systems for debris removal, and structural stabilization. U.S. Army Major Heather Herbst, commander of the Wisconsin National Guard's 135th Medical Company, led medical instruction covering CPR for adults, children, and infants, along with training on hemorrhaging, airway management, respiration, circulation, and treatment for hypothermia and shock.
Papua New Guinea faces frequent natural disasters including earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The joint exercise emphasized the importance of community participation in disaster preparation.