𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐅𝐌𝐅 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐕𝐈𝐏 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝟐𝟒

𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐧, 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 – 𝟑𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Major General Kalouniwai, recently participated in the VIP phase of Exercise Pitch Black 24, the largest iteration in the exercise’s 43-year history. Held biennially, Exercise Pitch Black focuses on large force employment missions and involves numerous international aircraft. This year’s event is notable for its unprecedented scale, featuring 20 participating nations, over 140 aircraft from around the world, and approximately 4435 personnel.

During his visit, Major General Kalouniwai held bilateral talks with several key figures, including Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Australian Chief of Air Force; Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, Australian Chief of Joint Capabilities; Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz, Australian Air Commander; and Air Commodore Daniel Hunt, New Zealand Deputy Chief of Air Force. Furthermore, the Commander received an exercise briefing from Air Commodore Peter Robinson, the Commanding Officer for Exercise Pitch Black.

In addition to his official engagements, Major General Kalouniwai was hosted by the Fijian community in Darwin. This community is primarily composed of Fijians now serving in the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) in various capacities. The gathering highlighted the strong ties between the Fijian community and the ADF, reflecting the broader theme of international cooperation and camaraderie that Exercise Pitch Black promotes.

The Commander RFMF’s participation in Exercise Pitch Black 24 highlights Fiji’s commitment to regional security and its collaborative efforts with international partners. This engagement strengthens military ties and also enhances the collective capability to respond to regional and global security challenges.