Fijian Navy Two Bound For Studies In USA

Two Fijians from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces naval division have been selected to attend training at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Midshipmen Osea Melibua, from Beqa Island, and Adrian Siu Narayan, of Nadi, will attend a prestigious preparatory school to prepare them for attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland later in 2020.

The two midshipmen will attend the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), a public military junior college located in Roswell, New Mexico.

Founded in 1891, NMMI remains the only state-supported co-educational college preparatory high school and junior college in the United States. Mr Melibua, a former Gospel High School scholar, and Mr Narayan, who recently graduated with a bachelors’ degree in mechanical engineering, have been with the Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) for the past 10 months and were recruited together.

Mr Melibua and Mr Narayan met US Ambassador to Fiji, Joseph Cella, and U.S. Defence Attaché Constantine Panayiotou, just before the holidays. They leave the country on January 4 and 5.

Mr Melibua has always wanted to join the military because his father and brother are in the Fijian Army.

Mr Melibua is from Beqa Island where he enjoys snorkelling and scuba diving with his cousins and playing rugby.

He hopes to boost the capabilities of Fiji’s naval surveillance by participating in this exchange programme.

Mr Narayan has been longing to serve and give back to his country so he was very excited when the opportunity arose to join the RFMF Navy.

He is from Nadi and represented his home city at the district level in a football tournament. Mr Narayan hopes to contribute to Fiji’s Navy by modernising and streamlining the processes so they make the biggest impact.

Their training programme has been set up specifically for those preparing to enter the navy, army, air force, and merchant marine academies. Course curriculum includes writing, pre-calculus, chemistry, physics, military science, and physical training.

In addition to academic requirements, they will be participating in general military training, drills, and marching.

The midshipmen will be assigned to a troop and squadron to include a Troop Leadership Advisor to serve as their academic advisor. All course work at NMMI is accredited and transferable.

Feedback: rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj