The handover of command from the Directorate Peace Support Operations (DPSO)/Headquarters Deployable Force to the Joint Task Force Command (JTFC) under its inaugural Commander, Colonel Manoa Gadai was held yesterday (Tuesday 19, 2022) at the Blackrock Training Facility. Overseeing the handover ceremonies was the RFMF Chief of Staff, Colonel Sapenafa Motufaga representing the Commander RFMF, Major-General Jone Kalouniwai.
After the ceremonies, the DPSO has been officially absorbed into the JTFC. Its former Director, Colonel Pacolo Luveni has now taken up the post of Director Force Development.
The Officer Commanding Blackrock Camp, Major Praneel Singh who represented the former Director of Peace Support Operations signed the handover documents with Colonel Gadai.
Chief of Staff, Colonel Motufaga praised Colonel Luveni and his team for their achievements. He said that throughout the last few years the PSO Directorate has sustained and maintained well-mobility assets in mission areas such as the Golan Heights. They have also improved the personal equipment of overseas deployed soldiers. In addition, he acknowledged the effort of the Directorate in its coordination with the Strategic Airlift by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 2019.
On behalf of the Commander RFMF, Colonel Motufaga congratulated Colonel Gadai and wished him well in his new posting. The new JTFC Commander will be based at Blackrock in Nadi.
A Guard of Honour of two detachments consisting mainly of western-based Companies of Echo (Lautoka) and Delta (Nadi) from the Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment (3FIR) was reviewed by the Chief Guest, Colonel Motufaga.
