 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Fiji Infantry Regiment" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| The Fiji Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
Cap badge of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
| |
| Active | 1920–Present |
| Country |  Fiji |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | Six battalions |
| Part of | Republic of Fiji Military Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ – Suva 1st Battalion – Suva 2nd Battalion – Sinai 3rd Battalion – Suva 4th Battalion – Nadi 5th Battalion – Lautoka 7th/8th Battalion – Vanua Levu |
| March | Cori Mada Na Noqu Salusalu |
| Engagements |
|
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | President of Fiji |
The Fiji Infantry Regiment is the main combat element of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. It is a light infantry regiment consisting of six battalions, of which three are regular army and three are Territorial Force. The regiment was formed with the foundation of the Fijian armed forces in 1920. The regiment, as it is today, goes back to 1978 following Fiji's independence. The Royal Australian Infantry Corps and Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment conduct yearly training seminars and exercises with the Fiji Infantry Regiment
Each of the three battalions in the territorial force exists as a single regular infantry company, all of which come under the operational command of the 3rd Battalion. However, all of these can be augmented to full strength with the addition of TF volunteer companies as needed. All of these units were formed following the 1987 coups and the conversion of the 3rd Battalion to regulars:
The Fiji Infantry Regiment in its current form traces its history back to the Second World War. Prior to this, Fijian infantry was formed as a Territorial battalion, with additional rifle companies, as part of the Fiji Defence Force. In May 1940, a regular rifle company was formed. The first three intakes of recruits were then formed into the 1st Battalion, Fiji Defence Force in October 1940. The 2nd Battalion, formed after the outbreak of war, became the territorial unit. The unit served in World War II initially under the command of Col. J.E Workman of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The main purpose of this unit at the time was to protect vulnerable points such as fuel dumps and important government buildings in the Suva area.
With the US entrance to the war, the US sought a forward training area and resupply base to serve as a potential line of defense against the Japanese sweep through the Pacific. Fiji geographically and logistically was the best location. In June 1942, the 37th Division in its entirety had established a base of operations throughout Fiji. With the arrival of US forces, it was decided to relieve the NZDF and place the Fiji Defense Force under US control. The shift of power was completed on June 30. The Fiji Defense Force saw extensive use throughout the war, and after the Solomon Islands Campaign the demobilization of Fiji Forces was announced on September 1, 1945.[citation needed] During the war, one member of the regiment, Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, received the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration of the Commonwealth for his actions during the fighting on Bougainville.[2]
With the Fijian independence in later years, the 1st Battalion was reactivated, this time under the control of the independent government of Fiji. In 1978, with the UN resolution to establish the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the 1st Battalion was deployed at the inception of UNIFIL. In 1981, following the decision by the UN not to send a peacekeeping force to the Sinai Peninsula, the Multinational Force and Observers organisation was established to serve as an independent multinational peacekeeping force in the region. Fiji volunteered an infantry battalion to serve as part of this force, and so the 2nd Battalion was converted from a territorial unit to regulars. The 2nd Battalion has served in Sinai with the MFO ever since. The 3rd Battalion was established as a regular unit following the 1987 coups, to serve as Fiji's main territorial defence formation. The 3rd Battalion also serves as the operational command unit for the territorial battalions, and provides fresh troops for both the 1st and 2nd Battalions. On 27 August 2014, 45 UNDOF peacekeepers were captured by the Al-Nusra Front and were released on 11 September 2014.[3] In March 2017, UNDOF peacekeepers deployed for the first time with Bushmaster protective mobility vehicles.[4]
