Over the past three weeks 30 New Zealand Officer Cadets have enjoyed training in the warm tropical climate of the Nausori Highlands compared to their usual near-freezing temperatures of Waiouru in the central North Island of New Zealand.

Exercise Veiliutaki has seen over 90 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deploy to the Nadi region to support the training exercise.

Chief Instructor Major Tim Colliar said: “Fiji provided the perfect setting to train the cadets in close-country operations and to test their leadership skills in an unfamiliar environment”.

He added: “The assistance and partnership with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces has been essential to the success of the training.”

Minister for Defence and National Security and former Officer Cadet School exchange instructor (1997-1999), Inia Seruiratu, visited the cadets on their exercise on Monday and was well received by the exercise participants.

Three officer cadets in particular are pleased to be back in the country. OCDT Nukutabu, OCDT Mareko and OCDT Cakaunivere are Fijian cadets who were selected to attend the tough 12-month course.

“I expect to return home with new skills, to become a better leader and overall an upgrade to a new better version of myself,” said OCDT Nukutabu.

The exercise finishes on October 25, with Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft transporting all personnel and stores back to New Zealand.