Republic of Fiji Military Forces Second Lieutenant Roko Bua Wainise Silatolu will join the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) next year.

She is the second female nomination to join the prestigious military academy.

The first was Bernadette Ramafono in 2000.

Second-Lieutenant Silatolu is from Lomanikoro village, Rewa. She has maternal links to Nasigatoka, also in Rewa.

She attended Vunikavika Primary School and later Rewa Secondary School.

She is 23 years old.

Training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst lasts for 44 weeks and runs from Jan-Dec 2021.

It is broken down into three 14-week terms.

Between each term, there are adventurous training exercises and 2-3 weeks of leave.

Term One: Basic military skills, fitness and decision making.

Term Two: Development of leadership skills and has a major academic component. Officer cadets select their future corps or regiment at this stage.

Term Three: Complex and demanding training exercises in the UK and overseas, an opportunity to practice all that has been taught.

Ms Ramafono said Second-Lieutenant Silatolu’s training will be intense – both physically and academically.

“She will be tested in every aspect of mental toughness and how well she can take pressure.”

Unlike Second-Lieutenant Silatolu, Ms Ramafono had only completed the RFMF Basic Recruitment course before joining Sandhurst.

Her preparation as part of the Fiji netball team for the World Cup in 1999 prepared her physically for the challenge.

Second-Lieutenant Silatolu however has completed the RFMF officer cadet training.

“This means she will be better prepared for the year-long programme. But with a lot of Fijians in England now, she needs to be focussed and exercise time management.”

Ms Ramafono said during their short break from Sandhurst, they were not allowed to be seen in a pub 3 kilometers from the Academy.

That was the rule, she said.

Ms Ramafono left the RFMF in 2007 and now works at the Australian High Commission where she looks after its Defence Cooperation Programmes.

The British High Commission confirmed, Second-Lieutenant Silatolu will depart for Great Britain next month.

She starts with a preparation phase at the Defence Engagement School, Shrivenham before the 44 weeks training at Sandhurst.

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