The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) ‘Exercise Antap Long Ol 2025’ Unity Walk which commenced back in July at Moem Barracks, Wewak in East Sepik province, finally come to an end as the troops concluded their march today at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby city. The final march into Port Moresby began early as 4AM starting from the Laloki bridge to Unagi Oval where they gathered before proceeding to the Parliament House where the Baton was formally presented to the Minister for Defence, Dr. Billy Joseph, and finally to Murray Barracks where the Chief of PNGDF, Rear Admiral Philip Polewara officially ended the exercise. The scope was deeply symbolic. It was designed to commemorate Papua New Guinea's 50th anniversary of independence; a milestone that reminds the people of the journey as a nation and the enduring role of the Defence Force in PNG. This year, the troops walked over 1, 245 kilometers on foot across rugged mountains, rivers, and jungles. This year was a more symbolic occasion as the troops completed an exercise of a reenactment of a journey that began nearly fifty years ago. Speaking at the Parliament House, Minister for Defence, Dr. Billy Joseph extended his deepest congratulations to the soldiers who have just completed the historic exercise, a powerful and moving reenactment. “It is a profound and enduring symbol of our military's original promise to this nation. In 1975, when a team of soldiers walked from Wewak to Port Moresby, they presented a message of loyalty to our founding father, the Grand Chief Michael Somare.” “They affirmed that the new nation of PNG would have its own Defence Force; a key state institution ready to defend its sovereignty and serve its key state institution and its people.” He further stated that this enactment reinforces that sacred commitment. “You have shown the entire country that the spirit of that initial pledge remains as strong and vibrant today as it was then.” “For five decades, the PNGDF has been the steadfast guardian of our sovereignty and a pillar of our national identity.” The exercise unfolded in four phases. In the first phase, the Second Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) marched from Wewak to Madang province, 388 kilometers in eleven days which showed a display of strength and determination. The second phase, led by the Engineer Battalion, covered 329 kilometers from Madang to Lae in fifteen days. Followed by this was the third phase, undertaken by the Long-Range Reconnaissance Unit, 275 kilometers from Lae to Wau in Morobe province and across the historic Bulldog Track to Malalaua Station in Gulf province completed in nineteen days. This leg paid tribute not only to the soldiers' endurance, but also to the historic sacrifices along the Bulldog track during World War II, where courage and hardship shaped our nation's history. The final phase, conducted by the 1st Battalion, marched from Malalaua Station to Port Mosby, 220 kilometers in eleven days, proudly concluding this epic journey the Port Moresby. Together, these four phases place a reminder that PNGDF embodies the strength, resilience, and the unity of the people. Furthermore, with fifty years on, the PNGDF remains an enduring state institution, committed to the security of a sovereign Papua New Guinea against all forms of threat. This exercise has strengthened their operational capability, tested their endurance, and sharpened their readiness.