Being away from his home in Nadi for the first time was hard for Jovilisi Bob Suka, but that motivated him to scoop the Best All Round recruit on Friday.
He was one of the 116 recruits who were part of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces passing-out parade at the Force Training Ground (FTG) in Nasinu.
The award is accorded to the recruit who scored the highest marks in the academic phase of the course, performed well in the physical aspect and demonstrated a high level of discipline throughout the training.
The 20-year-old adopted a lesion from the popular saying: The tough gets going when the going gets tough.
“My father is an ex-British army personnel and I look up to him. He is a great role model for me and I wanted to fulfill his request,” Jovilisi said.
“After studying for my Year 13 examination, I was part of the Nadi development team and when my father requested for me to join the military I did not back out.
“I am not the first in my family to be in the defence forces. My older siblings are in the Royal Air force and Royal Navy.”
Jovilisi hails from Nasautoka Village in Wainibuka, Tailevu, with maternal links to Tubou Village in Lakeba, Lau.
The former Ratu Kadavulevu School student said receiving the award came as a surprise to him.
“Being away from home was hard and then coming to Suva was a challenge since it was a new area to me since I was born and raised in the west,” he said.
He thanked everyone who believed in him.
“Especially my parents, siblings, family and the recruits who were with me throughout the course,” he said.
“It was not an easy journey but I am grateful because it has taught me lessons I will always cherish.”
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