Minister calls for RFMF recruits to serve from the heart

Minister for Policing and Communications, Ioane Naivalurua, delivered a powerful reminder to the 97 new soldiers who graduated during the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Basic Recruit Course passing-out parade yesterday.

He emphasized that their choices, discipline, and conduct from this day forward will shape the nation’s future.

Speaking to the recruits, Mr Naivalurua drew from his own experience, having served 32 years in the military.

He described the moment as “very personal” and said the RFMF had molded him into the leader he is today.

“You arrived as civilians. Today, you stand as soldiers,” he told them. “But remember, your actions will write the next chapter of our nation.”

Cadets during the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Basic Recruit Course passing-out parade.

Photo: Josua Buredua

Of the 111 applicants who began the course, only 97 completed the intense 13-week training. Mr Naivalurua said this alone should remind every soldier of the privilege they now carry.

“Many wanted this opportunity, but few finished,” he said. “Honour that privilege and the trust placed on your shoulders.”

He warned that wearing the uniform is not enough. “Your uniform earns initial respect,” he said. “Your conduct determines whether that respect remains.”

Mr Naivalurua urged the new soldiers to think critically, communicate clearly, and adapt under pressure. “The modern battlefield demands thinkers, not merely followers,” he said.

“These are not optional traits; they are operational requirements.”

The minister also reminded them of the legacy they now protect, the sacrifice of fallen soldiers, and the service of peacekeepers who carried Fiji’s name across the world.

He outlined three life phases every soldier must face: life in service, life after service, and life at the end of service. “A soldier must end well,” he said.

Closing his address, Mr Naivalurua encouraged soldiers to serve from the heart, lead their families well, and uphold the values that define a Fijian soldier.

“Nation-building is not theoretical,” he said. “It is lived daily through your conduct. Your service is now tied to the future of our home, Fiji.”