French marines join combined US-Tonga Tafakula exercise [1]
Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 19:23. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
French marines have joined Tonga's Tafakula 2011 military exercise for the first time this year.
Over 100 combined military personnel are participating in Tafakula 2011 that was officially launched by Brigadier Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, the Commander of the Tonga Defence Services, at the Taliai Camp this morning, August 11.
It includes 65 US Marines with five supporting staff; 20 French marines and a platoon of 55 Tongan marines.
Brigadier 'Uta'atu said that the theme for this year's exercise is based on counter insurgency, "when a country is infiltrated by criminals and insurgents causing sabotage, attack or plain criminal activities like robberies, hostages, disabling critical infrastructures like water, electricity, fuel, airport and wharf."
He said that such disturbance could occur in times of a natural disaster therefore the military had to be trained to know and understand the situation as well as how to counter it so that law and order could be maintained.
"This is very important training for TDS as we are an island surrounded by seas, so when there is a crisis or natural disasters, TDS need to know how to handle large forces. The exercise tests the movement of forces by commercial air or military aircraft."
Tafakula would be mainly based on amphibious exercises, involving land and sea type training or warfare exercises.
This year's exercise will run from August 11-24 and will be held at the villages of Fua'amotu, Nakolo and Lavengatonga in eastern Tongatapu, and on Motutapu Island.
Lt Joel Steele of the US Marines said they had looked at the focus areas for the training between the forces as they find themselves in joint forces fights a lot nowadays. They maintain excellent military relationships with both the French military and TDS.
Lt Nick Campoy of the French Marines said they don't all work the same and this exercise provided an opportunity for them to learn how the Americans work and how the Tongans work. "I think it will be a great experience for everyone," he said.
The Tafakula military exercise was initiated in 1985, with the objective of advancing the Amphibious Capability of the TDS. The New Zealand Defence Forces participated in 1988 and the Australian Defence Forces also participated in 1991. In recent years they had not been participating due to other commitments, but the American Marines and the TDS have held annual bilateral military exercises, either in Tonga or in Hawaii.