Lieutenant-Commander Natuva Shines

Lieutenant-Commander Osea Natuva is ready to practice what he learned from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

This was after he graduated from the Maritime Security and Governance Staff Course.

He was one of the seven who completed the course with dis­tinction.

Maritime Security and Govern­ance Staff Course is designed to provide officers from small na­vies and coast guards the knowl­edge and skills necessary to ef­fectively promote and achieve maritime security and good maritime governance in their national and regional waters.

Throughout the course, the 36 participants from 35 coun­tries were immersed in areas of maritime strategy, governance, maritime law and operations and culminated with the stu­dents having to deliver a paper on maritime strategy.

Lieutenant-Commander Natu­va hails from Navuso, Naitasiri, with maternal links to Tokalau Village in Kabara, Lau.

He arrived in Fiji on Thursday.

The course was from Septem­ber 29, 2023, to March 1, 2024.

He was the third Fijian naval officer to have undertaken the course.

“Fiji, nestled within the vast Pacific Ocean, has historically enjoyed a measure of insula­tion from traditional maritime threats due to its geographic iso­lation,” Lieutenant-Commander Natuva said.

Lieutenant-Commander Osea Natuva and his wife Mere Vunimo. Photo: RFMF

Who do I want to dedicate the achievement to?

“My family including my wife who has supported me through all of career. My parents and sib­lings taught me discipline and the value of hard work from an early age,” he said.

“I also want to dedicate this to the institution, the RFMF and the Fiji Navy for providing me the opportunity to serve and go to such a prestigious Military college.

“Finally, to my brethren, men and women of all services tasked with protecting Fiji’s maritime interests, the Navy, Fiji Police, Customs and Immi­gration, MSAF, Fisheries, port authorities, and search and res­cue agencies.”

Lieutenant-Commander Natu­va thanked the US Embassy and the US Navy for giving Fijian naval officers the opportunity to attend the US Navy War College.

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