Commander Marika Vosawale will act as head of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) naval division, the Fiji Sun has learned.

Commander Vosawale will fill in the post when Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake leaves for a one-year course at the highest Australian Defence Force (ADF) institution – the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies for Defence in Canberra.

Captain (Navy) Tawake confirmed to the Fiji Sun that he would leave for Australia when Brigadier-General Ratu Jone Kalouniwai returns home after completing his course at the ADF institution.

Background

Commander Vosawale was born on October 19, 1962 at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) in Suva. He was commissioned into the RFMF as a Lieutenant on July 1, 1988 and was transferred to the Fijian Navy on January 30, 1992.

He has completed numerous courses abroad including; UN Military Contingent Officers course in India; Navy Advanced Command and Staff course at the Naval Command College in China; Maritime Law and Security in Australia. He also completed Search and Rescue Air Directing Officer course in New Zealand.

The Senior Officer’s Command appointments include; Commanding Officer (CO) of the RFMF Navy vessels Kula, Kikau, Kiro and Viti and serving as a Naval Training Officer.

His staff appointments include; Director Maritime Surveillance Centre; Maritime Commander, Fiji Navy; Support Commander and Deputy Commander Fiji Navy.

Commander Vosawale has served in two overseas missions including the Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) mission in Sinai, and United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) as a military observer.

He is decorated with the Commission Warrant by The President of the Republic of Fiji and Commander in Chief of the RFMF.

He has also been awarded the Meritorious Service Decoration.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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