Yacake, First Fijian Female Infantry Soldier in Britain
From the highlands of Waibasaga, Wainimala in Naitasiri to the warfare force of the United Kingdom, the journey of Salanieta Yacake, 30, was one she thought would not have achieved. Coming from a family that had already been in the British Army, she made it a personal goal to finish what she started to make her family proud.
This sheer determination combined with hard work led to her being awarded the Best Endeavour during a passing out ceremony after Infantry Training with the British Armed Forces.
This award sets her apart as the first Fijian female to have passed out of Infantry Training. She will be joining the first battalion Yorkshire Regiment, which is one of the finest regiments in the British Army.
“I couldn’t believe it. I thank the almighty God for giving me the strength and courage to conquer and overcome all my fear to focus on the finish line,” Ms Yacake said. “Infantry training wasn’t that easy to be honest, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Ms Yacake is the youngest in the family and had completed her primary education at Naitasiri Primary School and secondary at Wainimala Secondary School. Exercise drills and running up and down in the forest during the winter carrying 30kg weights were among some of the challenges she faced during the training. For her, overcoming these challenges was uppermost in her mind.
Seeing her brothers and elder sister join the British Army earlier gave her a sense of motivation to join her siblings because she wanted to make her family proud.
“Being the last one in the family to join my three brothers who are already in the British Army and a sister who is a veteran was a big deal, and becoming the first Fijian female passing out of the infantry training, is an even bigger milestone for me personally,” she said.
She joined the British Army on January 26, 2020 and graduated on September 17, 2020. She currently resides in Chippenham, a market town in Northwest Wiltshire in England.
Ms Yacake dedicates this achievement to her late parents in Fiji, her children and her greater family who have supported her throughout the 26 weeks of training.