The Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division will recruit women next month.

This was confirmed yesterday by the Navy Commander, Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake. But the recruitment date will be announced in an advertisement soon.

“We will be advertising in the Fiji Sun about our female recruitment soon,” he said.

The qualification for the women, he said, would be the same as their male counterparts.

Captain Tawake said the recruitment of women into the Fiji navy follows an announcement in July last year by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto.

Captain Tawake said the first intake for recruits next month will be 20.

“Details about which ranks the women in the navy will hold are to be decided after completion of the training ,” he said.   

The first Fijian woman to join the Navy as a commissioned officer is Silipa Tagicaki Kubuabola, a lawyer by training, who is a specialist in Maritime Law.

Captain Tawake said the navy had guided Ms Kubuabola on her way to achieving academic qualifications in naval matters.

The inclusion of women in the navy will now see their presence in the army, police, corrections service and firefighting brigade.

“The refurbished RFNS Kikau will arrive sometime between April and May this year,” he added.

Edited by George Kulamaiwasa

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