Session 3 - Generating Land Power through partnering

Session 3 of the Chief of Army Land Forces Seminar 2018 (CALFS18) entitled ‘Generating Land Power through partnering’ was presented by Major General Gregory Bilton (Deputy Chief Joint Operations), Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo (Commander Papua New Guinea Defence Force), Mr Richard Sadleir (First Assistant Secretary International Security Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Mr Glenn Dunbier (Deputy Executive Director, Australian Civil-Military Centre).

Major General Bilton referred to the recent cooperation with Philippine armed forces and proposed that an approach that sought the partners’ interests as opposed to imposing our training requirements was more productive. General Toropo called for a maturity in regional partnerships in which the contribution of all partners was recognised and valued, and relationships operated on trust. Mr Sadler advised that DFAT values the long-term relationships that land forces, in particular, make with regional partners through training courses and exercises, and Mr Dunbier related his experiences as a NZ police officer working in interagency activities and observed that the cultural understandings we bring to partnerships can be an advantage or a barrier.

This session includes the following presenters:

• Deputy Chief Joint Operations, Major General Gregory Bilton - MAJGEN Bilton referred to the recent cooperation with Philippine armed forces and proposed that an approach that sought the partners’ interests as opposed to imposing our training requirements was more productive.
• Commander Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo - Gen Toropo called for a maturity in regional partnerships in which the contribution of all partners was recognised and valued, and relationships operated on trust.
• First Assistant Secretary International Security Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Richard Sadleir - Mr Sadler advised that DFAT values the long-term relationships that land forces in particular make with regional partners though training courses and exercises.
• Deputy Executive Director, Australian Civil-Military Centre, Mr Glenn Dunbier - Mr Dunbier related his experiences as a NZ police officer working in interagency activities, and observed that the cultural understandings we bring to partnerships can be an advantage or a barrier.