Corporal Ronaldo Kalkau of the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) is embracing the chance to work with Pacific militaries as they carry out vital engineering tasks in the Cook Islands.

From a press release it states that he is part of the New Zealand Defence Force-led Exercise Tropic Twilight, an annual regional training initiative funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This year’s exercise is being held on the small island of Ma’uke, home to around 240 residents.

The team includes members from Vanuatu, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, who are working together to improve the island’s solar farm, water systems, schools, and community halls.

Corporal Kalkau, an electrician by trade, is assisting with the electrical upgrades and said the experience is a major opportunity for the VMF.

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

He described the Cook Islands community as welcoming, generous, and full of smiles.

The New Zealand Army’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron leads the work, supported by a medical team and Pacific partners. Team leader Lance Corporal Elia Fata said the collaboration truly reflected Pacific unity.

“It definitely feels like a Pacific neighbour exercise. The overseas guys are in their element, sharing their skills — and even how to husk coconuts,” he said.

The NZDF and VMF have a long-standing partnership in engineering, leadership, and training. The collaboration continues to grow stronger, following joint efforts last year when NZ forces supported Vanuatu after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake and trained VMF engineers in construction work.

Photos supplied