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The first recorded military training in Fiji took place in 1871 in Levuka when Ratu Cakobau’s government decided to raise a military force to support his government and enforce his authority. The force was called the Royal Army and the task for organizing and training of the Army was given to Major Fitzgerald, a British Officer who had soldiered in the Crimea and in India. After the signing of the Deed of Cession, the Royal Army changed its name to become the Armed Native Constabulary until its disbandment in 1904.

At the outbreak of World War One in 1914 there was a pressing need for a properly organised military force. This resulted in the formation of the Fiji Defence Force. Its status as a local Defence Force had little attraction for local Europeans who left Fiji for active service with the British, Australia and New Zealand Armed Forces. A larger proportion joined the King’s Rifle Corps to which the Fiji Infantry Regiments are now affiliated. This association brought about secondment of British instructors after the war to assist in the training of the Fiji Defence Force. They were also instrumental in laying the foundation for the expansion of the Force during World War Two. This early training for war formed the basis, which later led to the formation of the first Fiji Military Forces School after independence.

In 1940, the government decided to train a small force for local defence and active service overseas. New Zealand Army Instructor conducted preparatory training for locally prospective Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) to become Fiji Military Force’s instructors. These new instructors, with the assistance of their New Zealand counterparts conducted the training of recruits who provided the strength of the first and second Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiments. The Fiji Defence Force became the Fiji Military Forces. Training was conducted throughout the period 1940 to 1942 before the First and Third Battalions, Fiji Infantry Regiment saw active services abroad. The commendable achievements by both Battalions in combat were a direct result of the effectiveness of the two years of training they received before they left for active service.

In 1949, the New Zealand Army Chief of Staff became the Defence Advisor to the governor of Fiji. New Zealand undertook to assist with the administration and training of the Fiji Military Forces and also share Defence costs. Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) was established and a number of NZ Officers and NCO arrived in the country on secondment to supervise the conduct of military courses for the Force.

Fijian soldiers were also sent to NZ to attend similar courses. Course were designed for soldiers across the rank and not tailored particularly for the Fijian soldier.

Training for the Malayan campaign was brief and upon the return of the First battalion in 1956, it was disbanded. In 1959 a demobilisation of the force took place and its size was reduced dramatically into company strength. This Company later became ‘A’ Company, Infantry Regiment. They were responsible for all locally run courses and were supported by Army Training Teams.

Royal Fiji Military Force School

On 23 April 1971, six months after Fiji gained Independence and exactly 100 years after the Cakobau government established a military force, the Fiji Military Force established its own school. In 1973, Parliament approved of the word ‘Royal’ to precede.

The name of the Force and the school became the Royal Fiji Military Forces School. It is perhaps fitting that when the school was established, the first Officer Commanding and Chief lnstructor was Captain Peter Holes of the New Zealand Army. This was the culmination of the long years of training together by the two Armies. Much is owed to the New Zealand Army by Fiji training the Royal Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) to the high standards which allowed it to form school of its own. The RFMF training link is historical and still continues today. The first local Officer to command the school was Captain Eastgate (1974) and command of the school changed hands quite regularly since and it has remained with local officers until today.

The period 1971 -1977 was a period for gaining training experience and consolidation of the RFMF School. Instructors regularly attended advanced courses in New Zealand or were given training attachments with New Zealand Army units for periods of up to 12 months.

FMF School to RFMF School

While the command of the RFMF School changed hands regularly, so did the changes its name. The first change took place in 1973 when The FMF School became the RFMF School after the name Royal was added to Fiji Military Forces.

1FIR Depot Training Cadre

In 1978 during the mobilization and training for Peacekeeping Operations in the Middle East, there was an urgent need to increase the strength of the RFMF School to meet its training demands. Selected Regular Force soldiers from the First Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment (1FIR) depot joined RFMF School and it became the 1FIR Depot Training Cadre. Training Teams were formed with an Officer as Training Team Leader. The Officer Commanding of the RFMF School became Training Officer 1FIR Depot Training Cadre.

FIR Depot Training Cadre

In 1981, the 1FIR Depot Training cadre became the FIR Depot Training cadre and despite the change in its name, its role and organisation remained intact.

Army Training Group (ATG)

The rapid mobilisation of the RFMF in 1987 again required the expansion of the FIR Depot Training Cadre to meet the existing training requirements. The FIR Depot Training Cadre became the Army Training Group.

ATG Nasinu Established

The limited training area at QEB necessitated the relocation of HQ ATG initially to Nasese with the rest of the Army School already established at Youth Rehabilitation Centre at 9 miles Nasinu. By mid-1988 HQ ATG was moved to Nasinu to be collocated with the rest of the school. All Operations, Promotional and Regimental courses and recruitment were conducted at ATG Nasinu, whilst Clerical and Logistic courses were conducted at QEB. Peacekeeping training was moved to ATG as well.

Cross Training with Ministries / Departments

A brief period between in 1982 in QEB and 1989 to 1995 in ATG saw cross training between ATG, education department and Prisons in instructional methods, particularly in foot and arms drill. This was to cater for the increase in schools taking up school cadet training like QVS, RKS, and Natabua High School. ATG conducted school cadet training and at the same time refresher training for teachers already trained at ATG. The increase demand for school cadets until today saw the need to decentralise such responsibilities to the 3FIR training Cadre since ATG began to focus with interoperable links with CTD, FNTC, training through Defence Co-orporation programmes and other training links for the purpose of recognition and credentials.

Women Join the Army

In 1988 the women recruits for the RFMF was conducted at ATG with the graduation of seven women cadets to the rank of commissioned officers in December 1988. The rapid expansion of RFMF’s involvement in peacekeeping require another mass recruitment of females which finally took place in 2005 and early 2006.

 

 

 

 

Officer Training School

In 1990 a school for officers was established at Vatuwaqa. In 1999 the school changed to Officers Training Centre (OTC). The school was primarily established to meet the officers operational, promotional and advance management training demands for Junior and Senior Officers since after 1987 overseas courses had lapsed for obvious reasons. Courses were scheduled annually according to officer’s Net Training Liability (NTL).

In 1994 to 1999 after the resumption of DCP and MAP, Australian and New Zealand Officer Instructors were on two years secondment to OTC. This lapsed in 2000 after the political situation in Fiji and again resumed in 2002.

Amalgamation

In 1999, OTS and ATG were subsequently merged to become Officer and Army training centres, (OTC and ATC) and the two became the present Force Training Group (FTG). This came after a review of RFMF organization. The Commandant was located at OTC as commander of bot OTC and ATC.

Training of Trainers

A three year training theme of “Training of Trainers” made possible by the Defence Co-operation Programme (DCP), from 1995 to 1997 was conducted by Mobile Training Team attached to ATG from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) annually. Courses run were Army Corps courses for NCOs and trainers were based in ATG. Training assistance was also given to ATG Training Teams. Trade courses were run at other RFMF trade institutions.

In 1996 the ADF provided one NCO instructor on two-year secondment to be based in the Training Design Wing (TDW) of the ATG. This support was withdrawn in 2000 due to the political upheaval but later resumed in 2002 when national stability again ensued.

Current Situation

In 2002, a review was made resulted in the establishment or Training & Doctrine (TRADOC) to be based in QEB. The idea was to provide a better training links with FTG and other Unit’s training Cadre so that they can work collaterally in identifying strategies, training necessities, assessments and moreover was the centralisation of training administration.

The current review made by RFMF Command Staff resulted in disbanding of TRADOC early in 2006. Its SNCO members, who were mostly Training Development Officers were directed to be stationed with Training Designers Wing in FTG while their command staff was posted to Strategic Headquarters. The idea behind was to allow transparencies and quick dissemination once training staff is under direct authority of HQ RFMF. Based on operational demand at technical level, again FTG was reassigned to be under Land Force Command in 2007 up to this day.