16 officers graduate in defence course
Sixteen commissioned officers of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces graduated from the Grade 3 Officers course at the Officers Training School in Vatuwaqa on Tuesday. The 2019 Grade 3 course also included the participation of two Pacific island Officers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) in Tonga. Lieutenant Kaufusihema Palefau who is a Second-In-Command (2IC) in the Royal Tongan Marines said the course was an eye-opener and had instilled a lot of knowledge in terms of critical thinking and adopting the right attitude.
“I have learnt a lot during the course, in particular being able to think critically and equipping yourself with the right attitude and knowledge even if we have little resources, we can still conduct the right training.” Lt Palefau said.
Lieutenant Palefau was awarded with the Best Staff Duties award whilst Lieutenant Logavatu from the Third Fiji Infantry Battalion (3FIR) won the tactics and overall candidate award.
Delivering his closing remarks at the graduation, Colonel Onisivoro Covunisaqa said the course prepared an officer to perform or carry out various tasks in a Defence Force.
“The staff and tactics course are to prepare you all for the responsibilities of leadership of the Defence Force at operational level and at a joint operational environment…also to enhance your interpretation for your superior in high command and intent both in war and peace time within a setting of a battalion or company level. Right now, you should be able to analyse or scrutinise high level missions and intents to derive your own,” Colonel Covunisaqa said.
He told the graduates that it was important to constantly practice all that they had learnt during the course as it would be useful in various operations such as Peacekeeping and Human Assistance Disaster Relief.