COMMANDERS INTENT
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COMMANDERS INTENT 2011
“If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less”.
General Eric ShinsekiINTRODUCTION
1. Our recent history has it, that we have risen to meet and shape our moments of transitions. This is one of those moments. We live in a time of sweeping change. Globalisation has accelerated to an unprecedented level and this has opened doors of opportunity around the globe but also intensified the dangers we face from international terrorism and the spread of deadly technologies, transnational crimes, to economic upheaval and a changing climate.
2. According to Charles Darwin “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change”. We rose in December 2006 to change the political and governance landscape of our government and nation. This includes changing the culture and attitudes of our people and leaders and more specifically that of our civil servants, politicians and vanua leaders in the way they deliver services to the people. This change agenda is encapsulated in our vision for Fiji “to become a more progressive and a truly democratic nation; a country in which its leaders, at all levels, emphasise national unity, racial harmony and the social and economic advancement of all communities regardless of race or ethnic origin. The overall objective of this vision is to rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress and prosperity through merit-based equality of opportunity, and peace”.
3. The approach to this broad objective is now defined in the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress. The achievement of this vision I believed will pave the way for a stable and peaceful Fiji. In another view the achievement of my vision ultimately means brings security for all as the lack of unity and all-encompassing policies were the major setbacks prompting instability in our recent history.
4. Furthermore, the Charter is the master doctrine for the nation today and has implications for us all. Being the institution that initiated this change process, I expect every member to have a good understanding of the document and ensure you make relevant contributions where appropriate. For strategic and operational level planners and decision makers, you must discern the change that is meant for us and incorporate that into our strategic and operational plans. We started this change and we must ensure we continue to make the necessary transformation within, in order to sustain our national effort in this process.
5. Reform, Change, Progress and Transformation seems to be the dominant theme of the moment. I believed that this theme is more relevant now to the RFMF than any other time of our history. We took the first step to making the many changes occurring in the governance of our nation today, and we exist to guarantee that those changes come to fruition. Our participation in this change process has exacerbated some gaps in our capabilities. We need to identify these gaps and make the necessary transformation in order to rectify them and sustain our relevance in the various roles and responsibilities required of us.
6. Change in the global strategic environment is immense, moreso in the balance of power in our wider region. This needs proper evaluation and analysis as it impact on our perceptions, opinions and more so on our security and defence structures and systems.
Nature and Scope of our Defence Functions
7. The RFMF is the last bastion of law and order, and defence of the sovereignty of Fiji. The RFMF remains a commited provider to the Government and the Commander RFMF, as advisor on military policy, strategic analysis and operational commitment. Encompassing this is the use of military capabilities in situations of natural disasters, civil unrest and our commitment to peace and security around the globe.
Fiji’s Defence Policy
8. We have not displayed our defence policy explicitly and there have been several attempts to develop one. Neither of the past two Defence White Papers has been implemented. The 1997 White Paper had emphasized external threats in its analysis and advocated a defence posture that would provided for ‘real deterrence (and) real combat capability’ in order to preserve national sovereignty ‘on land and sea’. Thus it had proposed the concept ‘Defending Fiji’ as a basis to defence policy and a force strength ‘of sufficient manifest capability’ to deter ‘aggressor nations’.
9. This White Paper was not implemented despite Parliamentary approval because, according to the Draft White Paper of 2005, it was considered ‘impractical and too costly to implement’. The 2005 Draft White Paper, which was based on the 2004 Defence Review, had called for a reduction in the size of the RFMF, mainly due to what it considered the absence of any external threat to the nation from the armed forces of another country. However, this was also never implemented, in large part due to opposition from the RFMF and the lack of merit in their other recommendations.
10. The basis for defense policy therefore is the RFMF Act. This is usually supplemented by our own Strategic Plan and yearly Commanders Intent. According to our Stategic Plan 2008 – 2012, Fiji’s defence policy provides the framework for future decisions about military capabilities, reserves and funding. Within this framework, the six key defence policy objectives are:
a. Protecting Fiji’s sovereignty, independence and interests; b. Overall security of the country; c. Wellbeing of our people d. Contribution to international peace and security e. Credible integrated security approach f. Maintaining strategic alliance; and g. Providing shipping and navigation services.
Our National Values, Vision and Principles
11. We exist not only to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity but our values and interests. National interest refers to what is good for the nation as a whole in international affairs and what is good for the nation as a whole in domestic affairs commonly referred to as the public interest. National interest lies at the very heart of the military and diplomatic professions and leads to the formulation of a national strategy and the calculation of the power necessary to support that strategy. The Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress identified our interests as follows:
a. We believe in God as a higher power that is in every human and in all of nature and creation. Therefore, as trustees of our Creator, God, we are all one and inseparable from the source of all creation.
b. As one people, we are one nation, basing our solidarity in love, dignity, humility and humanity, as we all are loved by our Creator.
c. We respect, appreciate and celebrate the diversity and the aspirations of our people.
d. We recognize the freedom of our various communities to follow their beliefs as enshrined in our Constitution.
e. We strive to live justly and peacefully with one another, in the knowledge that good-will alone is not sufficient to sustain peace, just governance, and freedom.
f. We accept that we must live by a set of shared moral values and standards, through which we evaluate our individual and collective conduct and performance.
g. We hold that these values and standards are the basis of the common good which we hereby define as consisting of the following principles and aspirations:
• equality and dignity of all citizens; • respect for the diverse cultural, • religious and philosophical beliefs; • unity among people driven by a common purpose and citizenship; • good and just governance; • sustainable economic growth; • social and economic justice; • equitable access to the benefits of development including access to basic needs and services; and • merit based equality of opportunities for all.
h. We seek to safeguard, preserve and value our environment as we benefit from it.
i. We seek to achieve this through consensus so that our people will have a moral vision that will guide our development and governance and that will give our people the responsibility to sustain the common good.
Fiji’s National Interests
12. The nation’s primary concern are the interests of the people and the State based on values and beliefs assumed and pursued by the various communities by which security, protection, safety and prosperity of her people are ensured through the stable existence and functioning of the state. This includes:
a. Guaranteeing the maintenance of Fiji’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence; b. Development and preservation of democracy, welfare, security and safety of Fiji’s citizens; c. Maintenance of human security and stability of society; d. Meeting regional and international commitments.
RFMF Vision
13. We want to be “A smart military force that enhances its capabilities beyond its size through professionalism, resourcefulness, knowledge and skills, leadership, discipline and adherence to its ethos and values”.
Our Mission
14. The RFMF Mission is to enhance the security of the Fiji Islands and protect its people and interest in peace, in crisis and in conflict.
RFMF Ethos
15. Our enduring ethos is based on truthfulness, fairness, and transparency interpreted as “Na Dina, Dodonu kei na Savasava”.
Our Values
16. The RFMF is a value based institution that defines acceptable standards which govern the behaviour of individuals within our organisation. These common norms of behaviour support the achievement of our mission and goals. It is important that we constantly communicate our values and confront contradictory behaviour. Our values are:
a. The Will to Win. Defending Fiji and its interests and maintaining order is meaningless unless there is a will to win. In fostering the will to win, the RFMF encourages professionalism, determination, tenacity, physical fitness, self -confidence and controlled aggression.
b. Dedication to Duty. All members of the RFMF must remain committed to their obligations and be physically and mentally capable of performing their tasks at all times. Consequently, the RFMF views seriously any impediment to those capabilities such as misuse of alcohol and ‘yaqona’, the illegal use of drugs and extra-marital affairs. The RFMF expects, when ordered, soldiers will be able to serve without unreasonable constraint, on duty or otherwise, in isolated or remote locations, on temporary or long term detachment, and on call-out or deployment to a contingency or military operation.
c. Integrity. Integrity is the soundness of moral character and principal. Integrity is essential to all service personnel as it implies honesty, sincerity, reliability, unselfishness and consistency of approach. Leaders at All levels are required to uphold and enforce discipline fairly and without bias. Their conduct is to be such that it neither calls into question their integrity, nor brings the RFMF into disrepute. Maintaining integrity ensures the trust and the respect of the soldiers whom commanders are privileged to lead.
d. Teamwork. The bonds of teamwork are equality, trust, tolerance and friendship. It is about understanding and sharing the same vision and contributing together towards achieving the vision. Together as a Team the RFMF can achieve beyond its size. e. Courage. In training and in operations, there will always be difficulties and hardship. Danger must be met with firmness and with control of personal and group fear. Courage is the physical and moral strength upon which fighting spirit and ultimate success in all facets of RFMF life.
f. Family. The RFMF is a people’s orientated institution. It is therefore vital that we recognise and respect the value and contribution of families to the success of the institution.
17. The above values are ‘combat multipliers’ that are invaluable to the operational capacity of a small military formation like the RFMF. Equally as important in our return to our constitutional role is to regain our professionalism and military cohesion. In order to reinforce this, the RFMF training focus for 2011 is on fostering professionalism, and perfecting basic military skills and discipline.
18. It’s been four years since we tookover the leadership of our nation. The takeover was provoked by the rot in the governance of our nation. The sense of optimism, confidence and a bright future for a united Fiji that was echoed during our independence 40 years was shattered after years of disunity and corruption. We decided in 2006 that compliance of our stipulated role in the defence of Fiji, we assume the helm of the leadership and attempted to transform Fiji into “becoming a more progressive and a truly democratic nation; a country in which its leaders, at all levels, emphasise national unity, racial harmony and the social and economic advancement of all communities regardless of race or ethnic origin. The overall objective of this vision is to rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress and prosperity through merit-based equality of opportunity, and peace”. Getting this vision achieved is not easy and needs a huge transformation in the attitude, culture, relationship and dynamics of our nation. It also requires a transformation within the RFMF because in our new focus our attitude, culture and capabilities have to be transformed to sustain our commitment to 2014 and beyond.
19. Transformation, Progress, Change and Reform are the basis of our assumptions and are the themes of my Intent for 2011. Every change we make at the national level will have some form of implications and effect in the RFMF. And given our current role of internal security and governance our imagination must be sound and transformed in order to be ahead of our national effort. We are the drivers of the change at the national effort and this must be reflected within.
20. At the international level, our traditional friends have deserted us. They do not want to understand us and only care about imposing their political ideologies and beliefs on us. God has been merciful and kind to us. New friends have come to our aid. We have transformed our Look North Policies, international relations, trade and economic relations, and defence partners. This has some implications for us now and into the future and we must appreciate this development and carry out the necessary transformation within.
21. Our image, reputation and credibility with the UN and MFO needs transformation as well. We need to a huge shift in our thinking, in how we do things with them. They have changed to be appreciated and planned accordingly. This must be incorporated in the review of our Strategic Plan for the next five or so years. Defence people like us must plan 20years ahead, more so in this age of constant change.
PURPOSE
22. This intent is my direction for 2011. It is the main direction for 2011. Because of constant changes in the environment there will be diversions along the way but we will need to review as we go along. But if we are required to redirect efforts elsewhere we must at the completion of those requirements quickly re-orientate and surge ahead.
“MAY THE LORD BLESS US ALL”