Republic of Fiji Military Forces Nadi Delta Company Second in Command Captain Loraini Navunicagi says she is honoured and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the RFMF Third Fiji Infantry Battalion detachment Commander.

Captain Navunicagi’s detachment was one of the five that were part of the Fiji Day parade at the Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.

She said there were 47 females that took part in the parade. Three were officers that included Second Lieutenant Elani Lasaqa, Principle Corrections Officer Kiliraki who also took part as Platoon Commanders and herself

“I was honoured to join this parade, it was quite humbling having to experience and seeing the public come out in numbers and seeing them cheer us on during the parade.”

“And having our families witnessing a momentous occasion that has been part of Fiji’s history since 1970,” she said.

She said she joined the RFMF in 2009 and has served for 13 years.

“I joined the Military in 2009, it would be 13 years now but I was teaching before that and I wanted a change of work environment and I wanted to test my limits mentally, I wanted to go beyond what I was capable of doing,” she said.

The mother of two resides in Viseisei Village, Lautoka with her husband and two children; a three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter. She is currently waiting for her deployment to Iraq in January 2023.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai said the RFMF provided equal employment opportunities under its gender policy.

“The participation of female officers is part of their job, they are part of the RFMF Corp, it is a regimental duty of all officers, we have been including them in our Middle East operations such as Syria and Sinai, the parade is just simple event, these officers have a responsibility,” he said.

Story By: SALOTE QALUBAU

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