Fiji Military Forces, Land Forces Chief of Staff Officer, Ltc. Ben Naliva welcomes distinguished guest and coalition forces to the start of Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Bilateral training develops the RFMF capabilities and increases the strength and security of both military forces for a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fiji Military Forces, Land Forces Chief of Staff Officer, Ltc. Ben Naliva welcomes distinguished guest and coalition forces to the start of Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Bilateral training develops the RFMF capabilities and increases the strength and security of both military forces for a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: SFC Andrew Guffey) VIEW ORIGINAL
Members of the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment mix and hand out ceremonial Kava during the Kava Ceremony to kick off Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Exercise Cartwheel provides tough, realistic training, strengthening RFMF and U.S. Army capacity as regional leaders, increasing security cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment mix and hand out ceremonial Kava during the Kava Ceremony to kick off Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Exercise Cartwheel provides tough, realistic training, strengthening RFMF and U.S. Army capacity as regional leaders, increasing security cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: SFC Andrew Guffey) VIEW ORIGINAL
Members of the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment sing and pass around Kava during the opening ceremony to start off Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Military-to-military training improves the readiness not only for U.S. and RFMF forces but for all nations participating, increasing capabilities to respond to a crisis and contingencies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment sing and pass around Kava during the opening ceremony to start off Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Military-to-military training improves the readiness not only for U.S. and RFMF forces but for all nations participating, increasing capabilities to respond to a crisis and contingencies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: SFC Andrew Guffey) VIEW ORIGINAL

NADI, Fiji – U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers participated in the opening ceremony for Exercise Cartwheel at Black Rock Camp, Fiji, September 12, 2022.

Exercise Cartwheel is a multilateral military-to-military training exercise between the Republic of Fiji Military, Australian, New Zealand, British and U.S. Army Pacific forces that builds expeditionary readiness and interoperability by increasing capacity to face crises and contingencies by stressing units at the highest training levels.

Soldiers assigned to 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, supported by Army Reserve 797th Engineers, 402nd Forward Resuscitative Surgical Team, and 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, will partner with Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Australian, New Zealand, and British Soldiers during the 11-day exercise.

Soldiers will train on urban, rappelling, and jungle operations with opportunities for unit ministry teams, medical teams, and engineers to trade best practices simultaneously.

Cartwheel is the final 2022 Operation Pathways event for 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Over the past seven months, the brigade completed eight different exercises in six countries across the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Victor Lange, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, US Embassy, SUVA, Central, Fiji, enters the opening ceremony for Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Exercise Cartwheel 2022 builds readiness through military-to-military training. The U.S. Army stands trained and ready to set the conditions for success across the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Victor Lange, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, US Embassy, SUVA, Central, Fiji, enters the opening ceremony for Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Exercise Cartwheel 2022 builds readiness through military-to-military training. The U.S. Army stands trained and ready to set the conditions for success across the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: SFC Andrew Guffey) VIEW ORIGINAL

During his opening remarks, U.S. Navy Commander Victor Lange, senior defense official / defense attaché – U.S. Embassy in Fiji, expanded on the genesis of the exercise moniker.

“The name of this exercise originates in Operation Cartwheel, a major military operation for the Allies in the Pacific during World War II,” said Lange. “In Operation Cartwheel, forces from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji joined by other Pacific Island nations, fought side by side to neutralize the Japanese base at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. John-Paul Smock, Army Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Suva, Fiji re-reads the Commendation for Outstanding Service, for Meritorious Service in Combat form the original Operation Cartwheel that took place during WWII in 1944. The Theater Army and INDOPACOM provide decisive, campaign-quality, joint integrated deterrence by being forward and ready. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. John-Paul Smock, Army Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Suva, Fiji re-reads the Commendation for Outstanding Service, for Meritorious Service in Combat form the original Operation Cartwheel that took place during WWII in 1944. The Theater Army and INDOPACOM provide decisive, campaign-quality, joint integrated deterrence by being forward and ready. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lt. Col. John-Paul Smock, Army Attaché - U.S. Embassy Suva, emphasized the importance of the longstanding partnership between the host nation and the U.S. during his opening remarks.

Smock read a 1944 citation from when Maj. Gen. O.W. Griswold lauded the 3rd Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment for their effort during Operation Cartwheel.

“The excellent combat spirit, discipline, soldierly bearing, and sportsmanship of every member of the 3rd Battalion has earned for Fijians the highest esteem among the American Forces. It is my sincere hope that the fortunes of war will again place your battalion under my command.”

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Victor Lange, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, US Embassy, SUVA, Fiji, receives a bowl of Kava during the Kava Ceremony to symbolize the start of Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Military-to-military training with RFMF forces increases readiness and the ability to respond quickly; working together effectively in a crisis, such as natural disasters, improves response capabilities to situations which threaten public health and safety. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Victor Lange, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, US Embassy, SUVA, Fiji, receives a bowl of Kava during the Kava Ceremony to symbolize the start of Exercise Cartwheel 2022 at Black Rock Camp, Fiji. Military-to-military training with RFMF forces increases readiness and the ability to respond quickly; working together effectively in a crisis, such as natural disasters, improves response capabilities to situations which threaten public health and safety. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Guffey 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: SFC Andrew Guffey) VIEW ORIGINAL

Following the ceremony’s opening remarks, attendees moved to an open-air pavilion for the culturally rich portion of the morning’s event. Members of all forces shared a traditional drink called Kava, prepared ceremoniously to symbolize the coming together as one family, united in the goal of working toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Later, members of the New Zealand Army, led by Warrant Officer Class One Chad Dewes, assigned to the 1st New Zealand Brigade, gave thanks through song and summed up the opening ceremony.

“We are here to build relationships and to work hard in beautiful Fiji,” said Dewes.