Inoke Rabonu | 09 Dec 2020 13:00

Second Lieutenant Merelesita Cakau (left), Waiouru Military Camp Warrant Officer Class Two Glen Savage and Second Lieutenant Grace Qasevakatini after graduating as commissioned officers at Waiouru Military Camp in New Zealand on December 4, 2020.

When we felt like giving up we reminded ourselves of who we were doing it for, for Fiji and our families.

These were sentiments of two women from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) who successfully completed a one-year intense officer training course from Waiouru Military Camp in New Zealand.

Second-Lieutenant Merelisita Cakau and Second Lieutenant Grace Qasevakatini were among 45 cadets from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Timor Leste, Malaysia, Tonga and Papua New Guinea who were commissioned last Friday.

The Waiouru Defence Area, in the central North Island, is the premier training ground for the New Zealand Defence Force.

Second-Lieutenant Cakau and Second Lieutenant Qasevakatini add to the growing contingent of qualified and trained women now serving in the RFMF.

The two achieved 100 per cent in their fieldwork in the course.

Second-Lieutenant Cakau, 27, said she only wished she had her parents and close families over in New Zealand to share in her success.

The officer from Baidamudamu, Tavuki, Kadavu said: “At times we really felt like throwing in the towel but I have always reminded myself of who I was doing it for, it was for Fiji and my family.

“We are Fijians and we were sent from Fiji, if we fail we would paint a bad picture for the country.

“That is why we make sure we shine during the course of our cadetship.

“During our break we couldn’t visit our families because of the border restrictions of the pandemic so we had to remain in camp.”

Second-Lieutenant Qasevakatini said her steadfast faith and prayers got her through some of the toughest times in camp.

“Every day before we go out to the field or the forest for training we would always say a little prayer,” she said.

“One day while in the forest we were so worn out so I held Merelesita’s hands from the back and we both encouraged each other until we finally completed our task.

“That was us. We encouraged each other and we prayed for one another.

“For now we are ready to return to Fiji to meet our families and most importantly to serve our country.”

Of Sila Village in Cuvu, Nadroga, she said she was grateful for her family’s prayers and well wishes.

They return next week.