Afghanistan: Soldiers are well and in good health [1]
Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 18:59. Updated on Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 14:12.
THE Commander of the Tonga Defence Services Brigadier General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, and Navy Commander Sione Fifita were bearers of good news from the 55 soldiers who are currently serving in Afghanistan to their wives, mothers, children and their loved ones who were at the TDS headquarter, Sene last Friday, February 18 to hear the latest news from Afghanistan.
Brigadier 'Uta'atu and Navy Commander Sione Fifita showed videos, and photographs of the soldiers at the British Camp Bastion, Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan, and informed the families that the soldiers "are well and in good health".
Brigadier Tau'aika and Commander Sione Fifita visited the Tongan soldiers from January 26 to February 5. They said that the soldiers work alongside the UK Armed Forces at the Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan, where they carry out Base Security at the British Camp Bastion.
"They also have joined a Quick Reaction Task Force that responds to any emergency in the camp," said Brigadier 'Uta'atu.
He told the families that the soldiers are safe, but he reminded them "that they are in a war zone."
Brigadier 'Uta'atu also told the families that he also received good feedbacks from the commanding officers at Camp Bastion, that the Tongan boys were hardworking, well disciplined and obedient.
Deployment
The Tongan soldiers led by Commander Satisi Vunipola departed Tonga on October 25, 2010 for England where they completed an initial six weeks pre-deployment training before being deployed to Afghanistan in January this year.
It is understood the soldiers would return to Tonga around June this year at the completion of the six months deployment.
A second Tongan contingent for Afghanistan is planned for April but it is yet to be confirmed, said Brigadier 'Uta'atu.