For Vunamami born and raised Captain Aquila Jack, returning to East New Britain, Papua New Guinea (PNG) for Operation Render Safe was a valued homecoming.
The senior ammunition technician officer with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) grew up in Vunamami, a village near Kokopo, where unexploded ordnance from World War II remains a challenge for many communities.
"Most people here in East New Britain rely heavily on the land," Captain Jack said.
"Many families depend on cash crops and food from their gardens, and these hazards reduce their ability to do those activities safely."
Operation Render Safe is a multinational effort involving the PNGDF, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and partner nations to locate and dispose of explosive remnants of war across the Pacific.
Captain Jack has been involved since the technical reconnaissance phase in 2025 as part of the Combined Joint Task Force Wallaby team, helping identify and map unexploded ordnance across the Gazelle District.
This year, he returned as the operation's ammunition technician officer, overseeing ammunition storage and supporting explosive ordnance disposal teams working across multiple sites.
"Coming here to reduce those risks allows people to live more safely," he said.
"It also allows the province to grow and develop."
'Travelling between Australia and PNG for study, operations and exercises has given me a different perspective on life.'
Captain Jack's involvement in Operation Render Safe reflects the close relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia - built through decades of cooperation in training, exercises and operations.
After completing officer training at Igam Barracks in Lae, he undertook several courses in Australia, including logistics training, the All Corps Captains' Course at Canungra and the Ammunition Technician Officer Course at Bandiana.
Captain Jack said studying in Australia required adjustment, both culturally and professionally.
"The standard of training in Australia is very high and requires a lot of time, effort and commitment to meet expectations and succeed.
"What I learned most was professionalism," he said.
Since returning to PNG, Captain Jack has applied those lessons in his role at PNGDF Headquarters in Port Moresby, where he advises senior leaders on ammunition management and safety.
Along the way, he has maintained relationships with ADF personnel he met during training.
'Coming here to reduce those risks allows people to live more safely ... it also allows the province to grow and develop.'
"It's been really good to take what we've learned in training and apply it during operations and exercises," he said.
"That helps build interoperability and understanding between our forces."
Captain Jack said moving between Australia and PNG for training and operations had broadened his view.
"Travelling between Australia and PNG for study, operations and exercises has given me a different perspective on life," he said.
"It's helped me compare how things are done professionally and personally, and I've been able to bring those lessons back into my work."
Captain Jack believes those connections are one of the enduring outcomes of operations such as Render Safe.
"These partnerships aren't just about work; they're about people-to-people connections," he said.
Back home in East New Britain, those relationships are helping remove a dangerous legacy of war while supporting safer communities for future generations.
"It gives me peace of mind knowing that my family can go to their gardens and conduct their daily lives safely," Captain Jack said.
