In the background is Mr Namakadre during TWET preparations before a briefing to
 Major Gadai (Commandant, OTC and Directing Staff) in the hills of Nawaicoba,
 Nadi with other participants of the course.          


He is the first officer from the Fiji Corrections Service to have attended and successfully completed the highest course for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) - Grade 2, Staff & Tactics Course. 

Meet the Deputy Commissioner of Corrections Akuila Namakadre, 49, of Navuniivi, Navitilevu in Ra. 

Namakadre, who basically spent all his working years in the Fiji Corrections Service has had a colourful career having just completed the three-month Grade II course. 

He did so along with 14 other senior officers – 13 from the RFMF and one from the Fiji Police Force. 

Sharing his experience, Namakadre said the course focused mainly on how participants, as commanders, should make the right decisions with their limited resources given that the life and death of your troops on the ground could depend on these decisions. 

Other critical areas participants were trained in included command and control, leadership, time management, the military appreciation process and manoeuvre warfare which basically is how one can skillfully outwit his pursuers. 

Participants were assessed on their attitude, character and discipline, among others on a daily basis. 

When asked about his secret to success, the father of four, who has climbed through the ranks within the Fiji Corrections Service since 1982, said it was important to “think outside the box”. 

“Keep striving, be innovative, analytical, have a positive mind and attitude and be creative,” Namakadre said. 

Namakadre holds a Diploma in Industrial Relations and Management from the University of the South Pacific. 

He has also attained a Bachelors’ Degree, majoring in Management and Public Administration & Industrial Relations, with History/Politics as his minor from USP. 

Namakadre also graduated from the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii in 2010. 

He has personally acknowledged the former Commissioner of Corrections Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua for identifying his eligibility for candidacy and the current Commissioner Lt Col Ifereimi Vasu for his continuing support.

Fiji Corrections Service Director Corporate Services Peniasi Kunatuba said Mr. Namakadre has created a milestone within the FCS, with his recent graduation from the RFMF Grade II course. 

“While we have had officers participating in various RFMF programmes, this was the first time that the FCS had been accepted into such a high level programme within the Military hierarchy. 

“The course itself has a large bearing on the future of the Senior Military Officers, and to have one of our own successfully completing the course says a lot about the progress that the Department has made in the last 5 years,” Mr Kunatuba said. 

“It will certainly boost the morale of other serving officers after having being considered a very distant cousin of the established disciplined forces – the RFMF and the FPF, Kunatuba added. 

Kunatuba said it has also opened up the way for our own officers in the enhancement of interoperability amongst the disciplined forces. 


www.corrections.org.fj