Ten prison officers including a female have become red belt holders in the martial arts skills of Hapkido. 

They were part of officers from the three disciplined forces who have been going through a six-month course in the South Korean unarmed combat skills at the RFMF in Queen Elizabeth Barrack. Also participating and making up the majority of the 79 participants are officers from the RFMF and the Fiji Police Force. 

The Commander of the RFMF and Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was chief guest. 

Commissioner of Prisons Ioane Naivalurua when addressing the grading ceremony said apart from the skills learnt another object of the course is for the participants to know each other and for the disciplinary forces t network. 

“I hope the training will help you to be fit, know each other well and have a good relationship among each other in the different places of your work when you go back,” he said. “The training will help you to perform your duty to the best of your abilities.” 
The participants are expected to graduate as Black Belt holders in December when the course will end. Before being graded, the participants were blue belt holders. 

It is the first time that correctional officers have been trained in unarmed combat and to graduate with recognised qualifications.