The Coral Warrior Programme will strengthen Australian Army 7th Brigade and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Land Force Vuvale family relationship.

This was highlighted by Commander Land Force, Colonel Manoa Gadai, during the opening of the three-day Coral Warrior Planning Conference 2020 at the Radisson Blu Resort Fiji at Denarau Island in Nadi yesterday.

Colonel Gadai said the Vuvale Strategic Partnership signed by the Australia and the Government had opened many windows of opportunities to both armies, especially to the Land Force Units.

“It is indeed a wonderful privilege for my team to engage closely with the ADF,” he said.

“In particular the 7th Brigade and I strongly believe that this engagement will be remembered as a significant event in the history of our mutual army to army partnership between Land Force and 7th Brigade.”

He said the relationship had great potential for the future of both armies because it nested into the intents within the Commander RFMF and the Land Force Commander for the enhancement of their future capability and capacity transformation.

Colonel Gadai challenged the two armies to raise the CWP to another level of relationship in the hope of a future South Pacific combine United Nations Military Peacekeeping Force.

“Let’s raise the Coral Warrior Programme to another level to foster and strengthen our Army to Army relationship. I hope in the future we will see a possible South Pacific joint/combined UN military Peacekeeping Force that consists of Australia, New Zealand and maybe Papua New Guinea deployed to one of the current or new UN overseas missions,” he added.

Meanwhile, 1st Division, ADF Army director of effects Colonel Corey Shillabeer said the conference was important because it was an opportunity for them to sow their roots deeper and also learn from their Fijian military counterparts.

Edited by Percy Kean

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