Chief of Defence Staff for His Majesty's Armed Forces [1]
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - 19:30. Updated on Thursday, November 14, 2013 - 12:59.
The Tonga Defence Services is now known as "His Majesty’s Armed Forces" and the Commander of the Tonga Defence Services renamed as "Chief of the Defence Staff".
The name change became official after the Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Act 2013 was Gazetted on November 11, 2013 after King Tupou VI assented to it six-days earlier.
Parliament had voted 10-7 in favour of “His Majesty's Armed Forces (Kau Tau 'a 'Ene 'Afio)” on September 10. Chief of the Defence Staff is Brigadier-General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu.
The King is the Commander-in-Chief of the forces, as stated in the Constitution.