𝗙𝗜𝗝𝗜 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗠𝗙𝗢 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥

Our troops serving with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai welcomed the new Force Commander, Major General Pavel Kolář in the traditional Fijian manner on Monday 9th March 2023, four days after assuming the position from Major General Evan Williams of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Major General Kolář is a senior Land Forces Officer from the Czech Republic Armed Forces with over thirty years’ experience in foreign operations and missions. Since 1992, his military career included a variety of command and staff appointments. Major General Kolář’s overseas assignments include NATO’s Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senior National Representative to the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, NATO’s Special Operations Headquarters at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

The incumbent Force Commander who was also accorded a Quarter Guard and the traditional 𝙞-𝙘𝙞𝙗𝙞 challenge was grateful for the kind and unique gesture shown by members of the Second Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment. Major General Kolář also expressed his eagerness to work with the Fiji Contingent throughout his tenure as Force Commander.