Retaining Jobs Priority, Commander Naupoto Reminds Military Parade
He also expressed disappointment with members who have cases before the court and those posting comments on social media platforms.
Military personnel were reminded that retaining their job should be priority as people depended on them and that they should not fall into the social media trap.
Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto expressed a stern message as he gave his address during the Commander’s Annual Parade yesterday morning at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Nabua.
Rear Admiral Naupoto said he was concerned that military personnel were involved in activities allegedly fuelled by alcohol.
He said as a result there were cases before the courts. He said his biggest concern was job retention by military personnel.
“There is a reason why we come to work. There is a reason why we wake up in the morning, get our uniforms done and come to work,” Rear Admiral Naupoto said.
“There are other people who rely on the work that you do. Your family relies on you that is a reason why you come to work.
“It is a good time to be in the military. It is a very regimented workforce. There are simple rules and A to Z of doing things, stick to the A to Z of doing things.
“You lose your job you lose more than your job. You lose the comfort you provide for your family. Don’t be selfish. There is a lot of offences that is alcohol related. We have civil offences very sadly most of it is alcohol related.”
Social media trap
Rear Admiral Naupoto was also concerned about military personnel and their use of social media. He said there were instances where military personnel had lost their jobs because of what they had posted.
“Don’t fall into the trap of social media. You just look at our work and what is required of us and do the job. Don’t be distracted about what is happening in the social media,” he said.
“You don’t want to play the role of politicians, you are soldiers, you are military people and just look at the work that is required of you.
“People have lost their jobs because of social media. We have a social media policy that is out there read it.”
Importance of family
The commander emphasised the importance of families. He said it was also important to prepare families for times when they had to leave.
As the country enters the cyclone season, he said the RFMF would be first responders.
“I urge you to spend quality time with your families now. Because when disaster strikes, you won’t be with your families as you will be deployed to assist Fijians in affected areas,” he said.
“During the cyclone season we make sure that our families and the matters relating to our families when it comes to disaster are prepared well.”
New uniforms
He also said the RFMF was looking at progressing the force and there were a few things that would be seen in the new year.
He said there was going to be a new uniform for the RFMF following a uniform review.
“We are very much working on our legal section. It is very outdated right now. Thanks to our New Zealand counterparts they are working on modernising the legal system that we have,” he said.
“Our uniform review is almost complete. The uniform you have now, you will have a few pairs of those, but that is for parade only. Our working dress will change into what we call the American pattern. “We will be introducing working with ball caps, like baseball caps, the berets will be for parade. What I see now is that we wear that for parade and work and that is almost every day.”
Better facilities
Rear Admiral Naupoto said the RFMF medical facility was shaping to be a very good one. He said a new ultrasound and X-ray machine have made processing deployment easier.
He said what was now being looked at was making the Military Medical Facility more suited for women and children.
“We are modifying the MMC to be more pragmatic for females. Not only females who are military personnel but we have dependents who are part of the medical scheme. I hope our wives, mothers and children are also able to receive proper treatment and not us men only,” he said.
He is looking forward to the completion of the Blackrock facility next year, which will feature stateof-the-art training facilities and a level two hospital.
He said work was also being done to improve living quarters. He emphasised on leadership and told his senior officers that as leaders they had to inspire personnel under their command.
He said making people work by threats was short lived and the way to do things was by inspiring people.
The Commander’s Parade ended with a church service, followed by a luncheon. According to Rear Admiral Naupoto, the RFMF was a good place to be.