Regiment head says new motto to motivate soldiers

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
THE First Battalion Royal Pacific Island Regiment has unveiled its motto “Force of Choice” – the first since the establishment of the defence force in 1951.
Commanding officer for Taurama Barracks Lieutenant-Colonel Boniface Aruma told The National that the unveiling of the motto was part of their business plan for the year.
“Our unit does not have a motto and our soldiers do not have a value guideline to look on,” he said.
Aruma said they wanted something to motivate their soldiers no matter the challenges they face as individuals or soldiers.
“From the lowest denomination, a soldier can use it and say because he is a soldier of choice, there is no room for failure and error,” he said.
“So he has to thrive in tough and trying situations.
“When everything is down and he feels low, feels tired and cannot walk the extra five kilometres, he will reflect on the motto and say I got no choice, I have to finish that.
“He gets up and moves on. The principle applies to a section or a battalion.”
Chief of Force Preparation Colonel Siale Diro said because the Motu-Koitabuans were the traditional landowners of the land on which the barracks was built, they gave them the opportunity to have the motto translated in Motu.
The motto in Motu is “Abeaka Oreana”.