Groundbreaking Ceremony During Exercise Tamiok Strike 26

Papua New Guinea Defense Force’s Col. Michael Percy Marai, the commandant of Lae Area and U.S. Army Col. Jake Bledsoe, commander of the 4960th Multifunction Training Brigade, 9th Mission Support Command stand to recognize U.S. Army Soldiers from the 844th Engineer Battalion and Papua New Guinea Defense Forces as they march onto a parade field during the groundbreaking ceremony during Exercise Tamiok Strike 26 at Igam Barracks, Lae, Papua New Guinea, July 7, 2026. Exercise Tamiok Strike 26 is a U.S. Army Pacific-led bilateral exercise conducted with the Papua New Guinea Defense Force that strengthens interoperability, readiness, and military-to-military relationships through joint training, engineering, medical, and leader engagements. The exercise demonstrates the enduring relationship between the United States and Papua New Guinea while enhancing the ability of both forces to respond to regional security and humanitarian challenges across the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mason Tran)