Vanuatu corporal lights up at opportunities in Pacific exercise

He is taking part in the New Zealand Defence Force-led Exercise Tropic Twilight, which is an annual exercise funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This year it is being carried out on the small island of Ma’uke in the Cook Islands, where more than 30 personnel are involved. The island has a population of about 240.

The NZ Army’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron (25ESS), 2 Engineer Regiment is being supported by a medical team and troops from Vanuatu, Australia, Fiji and Tonga.

Corporal Kalkau, an electrician, is assisting with the electrical aspects as the team carries out maintenance and improvements on the island’s solar farm, water infrastructure, school and halls.

The VMF did not often get a chance to take part in such exercises, and it was his first overseas deployment since he enlisted in 2019, he said. 

“This will be good for the VMF, for me to bring my experience back to Vanuatu.

“It’s good to increase our skills and I believe whatever you can do in your career in the force you can upskill.

“When I go back I’m going to show them what I came to learn. We also do similar work, including security work, in our communities.”

Corporal Kalkau enjoyed the welcome from the Ma’uke people. They were smiling, friendly and very generous, he said.

There are five electricians on Tropic Twilight. Electrical team leader Lance Corporal Elia Fata said the Pacific personnel were very keen to help.

While initially there was a language barrier, that eventually broke down as people got used to each other and their accents. 

“I am also learning quite a lot as a team leader, learning to plan according to everyone’s skill level and the mix of personalities.”

It definitely felt like a Pacific neighbour exercise, Lance Corporal Fata said.

“The overseas guys are definitely in their element in the Cook Islands. They are giving their tips and tricks on how to husk a coconut and how they might gather food when they are back home.”

The NZDF is one of the VMF’s partners and contributes engineer training, as well as band training.

Corporal Kalkau’s role continues the interaction between the VMF and NZDF over recent times.

In December last year, Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft flew relief supplies as well as surveillance flights to Vanuatu following a 7.3-magnitude earthquake.

That followed Royal New Zealand Navy divers rendering inert five 1000lb bombs from the Second World War, which had been lying in Port Vila Harbour. 

Last year, 25ESS sent personnel to Vanuatu to help train them in the use of donated construction equipment.