Multilateral military-to-military training exercise begins at Black Rock Camp

A multilateral military-to-military training exercise called Exercise Cartwheel was officially opened at the Black Rock Camp in Nadi.

Allies from the Fijian Military, Australian, New Zealand, and British forces will be participating in the 11-day exercise to build expeditionary readiness and increase the capacity to face a crisis and contingencies by developing and stressing units at the highest training levels.

During his opening remarks, U.S. Navy Commander Victor Lange says the name of the exercise originates in Operation Cartwheel, a major military operation for the allies in the Pacific during World War II.

In Operation Cartwheel, forces from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji joined by other Pacific Island nations, fought side by side to neutralize the Japanese base at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

The Forces will be participating in the 11-day exercise will train on urban, rappelling, and jungle operations with opportunities for unit ministry teams, medical teams, and engineers to trade best practices simultaneously.

In a 1944 commendation to the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment, Major General O.W.Griswold lauded the Fijian effort during Operation Cartwheel.

Griswold says the excellent combat spirit, discipline, soldierly bearing, and sportsmanship of every member of the 3rd Battalion has earned Fijians the highest esteem among the American Forces.

Members of all forces shared a traditional drink of Kava, prepared ceremoniously to symbolize the coming together as one family, united in the goal of working toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region.