Vani Surprises Family With Selection For RFMF Officer Cadet Training

Vani Vidovi’s family members were surprised when they saw her name published in the newspaper for the officer cadet training programme.

She never told anyone that she ap­plied and her family was shocked.

“No one expected this from me be­cause I am always focused on the academic side of things and never the physical side,” she said.

“This is one way of challenging myself and it was a tough one, but I vowed to never give up.”

The 22-year-old was one of the re­cruits who passed out from the Re­public of Fiji Military Forces pass­ing out parade at the Force Training Ground (FTG) in Nasinu on Friday.

Vani hails from Kumi Village in Verata, Tailevu with maternal links to Naisisila Village in Nacula, Ya­sawa.

She was one of the 13 women in the passing out parade on Friday.

“I come from a military back­ground. My father, uncles and grandfather all served in the mili­tary,” she said.

“Early this year I saw the adver­tisement for the officer cadet train­ing programme so I decided to apply and tried my luck.

“I went through the interview then came for ROSB (Regular Officers Se­lection Board) and I was blessed to be chosen as one of the successful candidates.”

To be part of the Officer Cadet Course, applicants undergo a selec­tion process called the ROSB.

After the ROSB, they undergo the basic recruitment training before they are selected for the officer cadet programme.

The former Jasper Williams High School student was studying at Uni­versity of the South Pacific for a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Land management and Geography.

This is under the National Toppers Scholarship.

“Never in my wildest dream did it occur to me that one day I will be joining the military force,” she said.

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