in December the same year, and an ensign on 1 November 1977.

After completing the Midshipmen's Supplementary Course in Australia, he was appointed navigation officer of RFNS ''Kiro'' in August 1978. At the end of that year, he was promoted to sub-lieutenant. In January 1979, Bainimarama embarked on the Chilean naval training ship, the Buque Escuela ''Esmeralda'',