TONGA'S first contingent of 55 soldiers who have been serving for six months at Helmand Province, Afghanistan will return to Tonga on Thursday, June 16.

Lt. Cdr. Solomone Savelio said yesterdy, June 14, that Tonga's second deployment consisting of 55 soldiers led by Commander Sione Fifita had taken up duties at the British Camp Bastion, after a hand-over ceremony with the first contingent in June.

He said that a third contingent is currently in the selection process and will be deployed to Afghanistan at the end of this year, with a fourth contingent, Tonga's last commitment to Afghanistan to be deployed around mid 2012.

It was understood from the start that Tonga's deployment to Afghanistan will be reviewed after the fourth Tongan contingent completes duties in Afghanistan in December 2012.

Tonga's first contingent of 55 soldiers departed Tonga on October 25, 2010 and underwent a six weeks pre-deployment training in England before their deployment to Afghanistan.

The pre-deployment training in the UK applies to all Tongan contingents before being sent to Afghanistan.

Tonga's deployment into Afghanistan is to support a NATO-led International Security Armed Forces Mission (ISAF) and Tongan soldiers are working alongside British troops and United States Marines, conducting force protection and security on the boundaries of Camp Bastion.

RAMSI

In July, Tonga would also be welcoming home its 10th military contingent deployed to the Solomon Islands after completing four months of peacekeeping duties under the Regional Assistance Mission RAMSI.

Tonga's next deployment under RAMSI will be at the end of this year.

At this stage no time limitation has been set as to when Tonga is to end its deployment under RAMSI, said Lt. Cdr. Solomone Savelio.