Commander warns RFMF leaders against silence

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has challenged the military’s most senior officers to speak openly about weaknesses within the Force.

He warned that poor communication among leaders has caused more military failures than shortages of personnel or equipment.

Opening the RFMF Veiliutaki Framework Lead Organisation Group Workshop at Volivoli Beach Resort on Tuesday, Major General Kalouniwai told senior leaders they must have frank discussions on issues affecting the military before they escalate.

Welcoming members of the Lead Organisation Group, he said the group’s decisions would shape every unit across the Force and influence public confidence in the RFMF.

He said effective communication remained one of the foundations of a successful military.

“No army has ever failed for want of equipment or numbers half as often as it has failed for want of communication among its leaders,” Maj Gen Kalouniwai said.

He urged senior officers to openly discuss operational readiness, logistics, training, discipline and troop morale, saying problems should be addressed before they become bigger challenges.

Major General Kalouniwai also assured officers they would not face retribution for raising genuine concerns in good faith.

He said the RFMF was operating in a changing national environment marked by constitutional debate, fiscal constraints and increased public scrutiny.

The commander said the Force must respond by becoming “the professional and modern force that the nation deserves.”

“If we model integrity, forthrightness, and the courage to be corrected, we will build a Force capable of adapting to whatever this decade in Fiji’s history asks of it,” he said.

He concluded by urging the Lead Organisation Group to embrace honest dialogue, respectful disagreement and collective responsibility as it shapes the future direction of the military.

The workshop, facilitated by the New Zealand Defence Force’s Institute for Leader Development and the RFMF Veiliutaki Framework team, brings together the Force’s senior leadership to review strategic priorities, strengthen institutional coordination and ensure the RFMF remains prepared to carry out its constitutional responsibilities.