Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) on Monday and Tuesday.

The Australian Navy’s largest ship, the HMAS Adelaide arrived at the Port of Suva yesterday.

The amphibious training will include:

• phases of strategic planning and preparation,
• operational transit to the intended theatre of operations,
• pre-landing rehearsal and disembarkation,
• troop landings,
• beachhead consolidation and
• conducting inland ground and air operations

Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Spiller said they were looking forward to the training session with the Fijian military.

“The amphibious training will focus on small craft so we will be training about small boat operations from the Fijian military and then we will move up to the landing craft and aviation training,” Lieutenant-Colonel Spiller said

“There will be demonstrations on movements and some rescue operations. As part of the training, we will be going to Nukulau Island so we will be using some vessels and small craft.

“We will be going through some Australian techniques and policies. There will be one-on-one training between the Australians and the Fijian military.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Spiller said they were looking forward to learning and sharing knowledge and skills with our military forces.

“We are not here to compare Australia to Fiji at all. We are here to partner in the training. We will get feedback from that and we can improve,” he said.

“We had a team here already for a week leading up to today and planning what we will execute in the next couple of days.

“We have a good plan that we intend to execute with the Fijian military on Monday and Tuesday. They are making the best use of our equipment here and that puts less burden on Fijian military in preparation for the activity next year as well.

“It is about raising the profile of Australia and improving the partnership with Fiji.”

The Australian navy from the HMAS Adelaide will be in the country until mid-week next week.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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