Republic of Fiji Military Forces Chief of Staff, Ro Jone Kalouniwai, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General yesterday.

He was conferred by the RFMF Commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto.

Brigadier-General Kalouniwai said the promotion came as a pleasant surprise.

“Personally for me, this is a milestone achievement and I’m proud of the fact that I’ve now reached this rank. It’s a very hard rank to reach in the RFMF.”

But Brigadier-General Kalouniwai is also well aware of the responsibilities that come with the promotion.

“The responsibility goes up another level,” he said.

The RFMF now has two active serving Brigadier-Generals. The other is Brigadier-General Mohammed Aziz.

Brigadier-General Kalouniwai acknowledged that the move is a big step for the RFMF.

“Members of the RFMF are seeing what is happening and it’s good for morale. I’m grateful to the Commander and the leadership for the confidence in this promotion. In fact, I thought that I would finish from here on the rank of full Colonel,” he said.

Brigadier-General Kalouniwai thanked his family, in particular his wife Folaukitoga Pareti Logavatu, for their support.

He made special mention of the RFMF officers and soldiers.

“They’ve always been an inspiration for me – to do better in everything that I do,” he said.

“There will always be challenges, but then again it’s a matter of how you deal with them.”

FACTS ABOUT NEWLY

PROMOTED BRIGADIER-

GENERAL KALOUNIWAI:

October 23, 1987 – Enlisted in the RFMF

May 10, 1992 – Commissioned into the Officers Corp

He has completed many military courses and some included Political Warfare, Regimental Officers Intelligence Course (NZ), Defence Services Staff College (India), Combined Defence Intelligence Research & Analysis Course (Australia), UN Officers Course (Sweden)

He held several senior appointments with the RFMF. He was posted as the:

Battalion Commander for 2nd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment with the MFO in Sinai – Egypt

Battalion Commander for 3rd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment in Fiji

He assumed the appointment as the Chief of Staff Officer for Operations, Planning, Intelligence and Training for the Land Force Command HQ, Chief of Staff for the RFMF Land Force component, Commander of the RFMF Land Forces.

2 year assignment as the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) Chief of Staff in early 2015.

He holds an Executive Certificate in Management from the Australian Maritime College, Graduate Diploma in Management (Central Queensland University), Masters in Business Administration (Central Queensland University), Masters of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies (Madras University, India)

Brigadier-General Kalouniwai is a well decorated officer having received the:

• Command Medal
• Meritorious Service Decoration
• General Service Medal, Sinai
• MFO Peacekeeping Medal, Sinai
• UNIFIL Peacekeeping Medal
• UNAMI Medal, Iraq
• UNMISET Peacekeeping Medal,East Timor
• UNDOF peacekeeping Medal, Golan Heights
• Fiji Republic Medal

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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