A Papua New Guinean-born Australian Army officer has returned to his home province of East New Britain to support a multinational operation aimed at locating and disposing of unexploded World War II ordnance.
Captain Jeffrey Sios, serving with the Australian Army’s 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron Group in Queensland, is the Logistics Officer for Operation Render Safe, a mission led by the Australian Defense Force (ADF) involving military personnel from Papua New Guinea and seven partner nations.
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The operation is currently underway in East New Britain and focuses on safely removing unexploded wartime munitions identified during previous clearance missions, reducing risks to local communities and the environment.
For Captain Sios, the mission carries special significance as it brings him back to the province where he grew up.
As a child, he spent countless hours exploring creek beds, bush tracks and waterways with his cousins, unaware that remnants of World War II lay hidden beneath the landscape.
Earlier this year, while conducting reconnaissance activities for Operation Render Safe, Captain Sios revisited one of those childhood locations and was surprised to discover the extent of unexploded ordnance still present in the area.
“We walked along a creek bed where my cousins and I used to play as kids, and some of the EOD boys pointed out like 10 or 15 unexploded ordnances,” Captain Sios said in a statement.
“We used to walk down this exact same place, and I had no idea any of this stuff was there. It’s close to the heart because I’m from here too, and hopefully it makes people want to come back and keep helping this area.”
As Logistics Officer, Captain Sios plays a critical role in coordinating the movement of personnel and equipment to support the safe execution of the mission.
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This year’s Operation Render Safe brings together personnel from Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, reflecting a shared commitment to removing the dangers posed by unexploded wartime ordnance and improving safety for communities across the region.